[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 112 (Tuesday, July 12, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4953-S4954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CARA AND MILCON-VA AND ZIKA VIRUS FUNDING LEGISLATION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Now, Mr. President, let me speak on an entirely 
different matter.
  Angie was ``a beautiful girl with a heart of gold and a smile that 
would light up a room'' before her life was changed by heroin. Angie 
described her addiction to her mother, saying: ``Mom, I need this drug 
like I need air to breathe.'' It would take Angie experiencing an 
overdose and her mom begging her to quit before she agreed to seek 
treatment. Unfortunately, though, like so many addicts, Angie left the 
treatment facility and started using again. She told her mother: ``I'm 
in a black hole and I can't get out.'' Angie would end up dying from an 
overdose, her body dumped callously at the bottom of a muddy creek by 
her drug dealer.
  Tragically, Angie's story is just one glimpse into the widespread 
prescription opioid and heroin epidemic sweeping our country. In fact, 
drug overdoses now claim 129 lives a day in America. The families of 
these victims know more must be done to prevent others from enduring 
the pain of drug addiction and overdose.
  Antidrug groups and law enforcement officials also know more must be 
done to prevent the widespread loss communities have experienced at the 
hands of this crisis. That is why nearly 250 antidrug and law 
enforcement groups across the country have voiced their support for the 
Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act conference report.
  Just last week, these groups collectively sent a letter urging 
passage of this legislation, which they called a ``truly comprehensive 
response to the opioid epidemic'' that represents ``the critical 
response we need.'' These groups represent States from coast to coast, 
from Lifehouse Recovery Connection in California to Justice and 
Recovery Advocates in Maryland, to Friends of Recovery in New York, 
among dozens and dozens of others. They have seen the crisis firsthand, 
and they know the positive impact this bipartisan comprehensive 
response can have.
  Here is what I mean. The National Association of Counties and the 
National League of Cities have asked Congress to ``act quickly'' and 
pass the CARA conference report. They call it ``a pivotal step towards 
stemming the tide of this epidemic.''
  The Addiction Policy Forum has warned Congress ``not [to] play 
politics'' by blocking passage of this CARA conference report. They 
call it ``a monumental step forward--a tipping point to better 
addressing the paralyzing opioid epidemic.''
  The Faces and Voices of Recovery has urged support too. They call it 
``the most expansive Federal, bipartisan legislation to date for 
addiction support services,'' and they say it can ``help save the lives 
of countless people.''

[[Page S4954]]

  The Fraternal Order of Police has asked Congress ``to adopt the 
conference report'' on behalf of its more than 330,000 members. They 
call it another ``tool to reduce the deaths from this epidemic.''
  So we are just one step away from sending this legislation to the 
President's desk. The House overwhelmingly passed it by a vote of 407 
to 5. With continued cooperation, the Senate can send it to the 
President this week.
  Remember, this Senate has provided more than twice as much funding 
for opioid-related issues as under the previous Senate majority. Let me 
say that again. This Senate has provided more than twice as much 
funding for opioid-related issues as under the previous Senate 
majority. The passage of CARA would represent another crucial step 
toward combating this crisis.
  Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering 
commitment of Members like Senator Portman, Senator Ayotte, Senator 
Grassley, and Senator Alexander to move this bill forward. From raising 
awareness about this crisis to serving as voices for the voiceless and 
working across the aisle to develop this comprehensive legislative 
response, these Senators were resolute in their support. In no small 
part, because of their efforts to drive this bill forward, communities 
will be better equipped to prevent heroin and prescription opioid abuse 
in the first place, just as they will be better equipped to save lives 
and foster treatment and recovery.
  I also want to recognize the work of Democratic Members like Senator 
Whitehouse and Senator Klobuchar for their efforts to help garner 
support for this bill and move it through the legislative process. 
There is no reason every Senator shouldn't support it now. The sooner 
we send this bill to the President's desk, the sooner we can help our 
communities begin to heal from the prescription opioid and heroin 
crisis.
  Another way to do that is by passing the conference report that would 
fight Zika and enact record levels of funding for veterans' medical 
services, including millions for substance abuse and treatment. 
Democrats are clearly very nervous about their decision to attack 
women's health and veterans with the filibuster of the anti-Zika 
funding bill. Who can blame them? They put forth a variety of tortured 
excuses that don't stand up to scrutiny. They have offered a proposal 
they hoped would provide political cover by ditching funding for our 
Nation's veterans. That is clearly not a solution.
  I don't know how Democrats plan to explain any of this to veterans 
this summer. I certainly don't know how Democrats plan to explain this 
to pregnant mothers. Either Democrats believe Zika is a crisis that 
requires immediate action or they do not. Republicans believe we ought 
to pass this bill now because this is a crisis. Our friends across the 
aisle will have to decide if they feel the same or if a partisan 
political group is worth delaying funding to protect families from Zika 
or funding our veterans.
  There is only one option to get anti-Zika funding on the President's 
desk before September; that is, passing the compromise Zika control and 
veterans funding legislation that is before us and sending it down to 
the President for signature.
  The rules don't allow for a conference report to be amended, and 
repassing the same bill that went to conference will not put a bill on 
the President's desk, it will not create a vaccine, it will not kill a 
single mosquito, and it will not help a single pregnant mother. So 
let's do the right thing for our Nation and pass the legislation that 
is before us.

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