[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 36 (Monday, March 7, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1299-S1300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMPREHENSIVE ADDICTION AND RECOVERY BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, as I noted earlier, combating 
substance abuse was an issue close to Nancy Reagan's heart. It is 
fitting that we will have an important opportunity this afternoon to 
address the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic sweeping our 
Nation. We can do so by advancing the Comprehensive Addiction and 
Recovery Act.
  Just a few months ago, we appropriated $400 million to opioid-
specific programs. We are glad that all of those funds remain available 
to be spent today, and now we can pass comprehensive, bipartisan 
legislation that will help build upon the progress being made in this 
fight.
  This CARA bill would expand education and prevention. It would 
bolster law enforcement efforts. It would improve treatment 
initiatives. This bill has also received broad bipartisan backing and 
the support of nearly 130 groups dedicated to ending this crisis.
  We appreciate the work of the senior Senator from Iowa, Mr. Grassley, 
who worked to move this bill swiftly out of the Judiciary Committee. We 
thank Senator Portman, Senator Ayotte, along with the junior Senator 
from Rhode Island and the senior Senator from Minnesota, for all the 
work they have done to advance CARA. We recognize the continuing 
efforts of Senators on both sides of the aisle who have put party 
labels aside to build support for this much needed legislation.
  So let's continue that work by voting for cloture on CARA so we can 
take an

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important step forward to address this national epidemic.

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