[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1183-E1184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HOUSE APPROVES OPIOID CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2016

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, the House voted to pass our Conference 
Committee's work on S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery 
Act.
  I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to be on this 
Committee and serve as a voice for so many grieving parents, loved

[[Page E1184]]

ones, and close friends who have tragically lost someone from 
prescription or substance abuse. The product of our work gives a voice 
to those that unfortunately are not here to share their own stories.
  Opioid abuse and addiction is a top concern. It is especially 
prominent in our Veteran population.
  Our Veterans often return with both physical and mental wounds. The 
invisible wounds they sustain serving our country are just as serious 
as the physical ones, and we must find the best ways to care for each 
and every hero.
  Recent statistics show that 20-22 Veterans commit suicide each day. 
This is deeply troubling. We must do all we can to prevent Veteran 
suicide and ensure they receive the quality care they have earned and 
deserve.
  I am grateful to my colleagues for accepting some of my priorities 
that I have been diligently advocating for this Congress. Specifically, 
my initiatives, the Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery or 
COVER Act (H.R. 271) and the Jason Simcakoski Promoting Responsible 
Opioid Management and Incorporating Scientific Expertise or the PROMISE 
Act (H.R. 4063), were incorporated into this bill along with other 
measures I have authored in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
  The COVER Act is a bipartisan provision which provides a pathway 
forward that will eventually allow Veterans to have a range of options 
for mental health treatments such as outdoor sports therapy, hyperbaric 
oxygen therapy, accelerated resolution therapy, and service dog 
therapy.
  The PROMISE Act will increase safety for opioid therapy and pain 
management by requiring the VA and DOD to update their Clinical 
Practice Guidelines for Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain. 
It also requires VA opioid prescribers to have enhanced pain management 
and safe opioid prescribing education and training and further requires 
the VA to increase information sharing with state licensing boards.
  My bill encourages transparency and will further efforts to hold the 
VA accountable by requiring GAO to report on recommendations for 
improvement and assess the level of care Veterans are receiving.
  Additionally, the PROMISE Act will authorize a program on integration 
of complementary and integrative health within the VA and encourage 
more outreach and awareness of the Patient Advocacy Program to educate 
Veterans on their care options.
  Mr. Speaker, our Veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, 
and we have a responsibility to ensure they are receiving the quality 
of care they have earned and deserve. We must hold the VA accountable 
and encourage optimal care for all Veterans who have fought for the 
freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.
  Enactment of both these bills sends a clear message that enough is 
enough. Even one life lost is one too many. Those that have been 
bestowed the sacred duty of caring for our true heroes must have the 
training, resources and passion to do right.
  This victory would not have been possible without the commitment and 
tireless work of so many. I sincerely thank everyone for their support 
and advocacy in our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in our 
country. Through the collaboration with families back home, 
stakeholders, and many others, we were able to come together to make 
necessary reforms and investments to really take a stand and save 
lives.
  First and foremost, I want to extend my appreciation to the 
Simcakoski family. Like so many others who have been affected by 
similar tragedies, hearing firsthand from families such as the 
Simcakoskis highlighted the need that we can and must do more for those 
who have proudly served to defend our great nation.
  I greatly appreciate the support from my colleagues in the House and 
Senate, especially Senator Tammy Baldwin for spearheading this effort 
in the Senate, Representatives Ron Kind and Kathleen Rice for taking 
the lead with me in the House, and those who cosponsored the PROMISE 
Act and COVER Act.
  I want to thank the following groups for their efforts and letters of 
support as well including: the American Legion, AMVETS, Iraq & 
Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Disabled Veterans of America, 
Vietnam Veterans of America, Blinded American Veterans Foundation, 
Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VetsFirst, the Fleet 
Reserve Association, the United States Conference of Mayors, American 
Dance Therapy Association, American Music Therapy Association, American 
Art Therapy Association, Brain Treatment Center, Mental Health America, 
Boston Scientific, U.S. Pain Foundation, Performing Arts Alliance, the 
Certification Board for Music Therapists, Mid-America Arts Alliance, 
Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse, the Sixth Judicial Circuit's 
Veterans' Treatment Court, National Alliance for Mental Illness Pasco/
Pinellas, BayCare Behavioral Health, Veterans' Alternative Center, my 
Veterans' Advisory Committee, the Pinellas County Veteran Service 
Office, the Pasco County Veteran Service Office, the Hillsborough 
County Veteran Service Office, and the organizations that signed onto 
the letter led by the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose.
  I also want to thank Dr. Kevin Kip, who oversees the Accelerated 
Resolution Therapy program at the University of South Florida, Dr. Edi 
Dopking, Director of Quantum Leap Farms, Inc., Judge Shawn Crane of the 
Sixth Judicial Circuit's Veterans' Treatment Court, Sheriff Bob 
Gualtieri of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Chris Nocco 
of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, and Doug Leonardo, Executive 
Director for BayCare Behavioral Health, for their input and hard work 
to help our heroes.
  To everyone else who was involved, advocated for the COVER and 
PROMISE Acts, and those who spread the word on the importance of these 
bills through social media, thank you so very much from the bottom of 
my heart. Our Veterans deserve it all, and getting this done on their 
behalf symbolizes our commitment to uphold our promises as a grateful 
nation.

                          ____________________