[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMBATING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

  (Mr. DUNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleagues in the 
House for standing up and recognizing that we must get serious about 
the opioid epidemic that is plaguing America.
  In 2016, more than 42,000 Americans died from opioid overdose, almost 
5,000 in Florida alone. We can no longer be satisfied with lip service 
about this problem.
  Over the next 2 weeks, we will be voting to crack down on the flow of 
dangerous synthetic drugs through our postal system and strengthen 
support systems for those who are battling addiction.
  We will give our law enforcement the tools they need to get these 
drugs out of our communities and increase medical research on 
alternatives to opioid pain medication. Police and community leaders in 
my district have made it clear: They need our help.
  It is time to tackle the opioid epidemic head-on, and I believe we 
are finally committed to doing exactly that.
  I urge all my colleagues to support these bipartisan bills.

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