[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5115-H5117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TREATING BARRIERS TO PROSPERITY ACT OF 2018

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5294) to amend title 40, United States Code, to address the 
impact of drug abuse on economic development in Appalachia, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5294

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Treating Barriers to 
     Prosperity Act of 2018''.

[[Page H5116]]

  


     SEC. 2. DRUG ABUSE MITIGATION INITIATIVE.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 145 of title 40, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 14509 the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 14510. Drug abuse mitigation initiative

       ``(a) In General.--The Appalachian Regional Commission may 
     provide technical assistance to, make grants to, enter into 
     contracts with, or otherwise provide amounts to individuals 
     or entities in the Appalachian region for projects and 
     activities to address drug abuse, including opioid abuse, in 
     the region, including projects and activities--
       ``(1) to facilitate the sharing of best practices among 
     States, counties, and other experts in the region with 
     respect to reducing such abuse;
       ``(2) to initiate or expand programs designed to eliminate 
     or reduce the harm to the workforce and economic growth of 
     the region that results from such abuse;
       ``(3) to attract and retain relevant health care services, 
     businesses, and workers; and
       ``(4) to develop relevant infrastructure, including 
     broadband infrastructure that supports the use of 
     telemedicine.
       ``(b) Limitation on Available Amounts.--Of the cost of any 
     activity eligible for a grant under this section--
       ``(1) not more than 50 percent may be provided from amounts 
     appropriated to carry out this section; and
       ``(2) notwithstanding paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) in the case of a project to be carried out in a 
     county for which a distressed county designation is in effect 
     under section 14526, not more than 80 percent may be provided 
     from amounts appropriated to carry out this section; and
       ``(B) in the case of a project to be carried out in a 
     county for which an at-risk designation is in effect under 
     section 14526, not more than 70 percent may be provided from 
     amounts appropriated to carry out this section.
       ``(c) Sources of Assistance.--Subject to subsection (b), a 
     grant provided under this section may be provided from 
     amounts made available to carry out this section in 
     combination with amounts made available--
       ``(1) under any other Federal program (subject to the 
     availability of subsequent appropriations); or
       ``(2) from any other source.
       ``(d) Federal Share.--Notwithstanding any provision of law 
     limiting the Federal share under any other Federal program, 
     amounts made available to carry out this section may be used 
     to increase that Federal share, as the Appalachian Regional 
     Commission determines to be appropriate.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 145 of 
     title 40, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 14509 the following:

``14510. Drug abuse mitigation initiative.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Ms. Plaskett) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5294.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5294, the Treating Barriers to Prosperity Act, 
positions the Appalachian Regional Commission, or ARC, to better serve 
communities across Appalachia that struggle with the ongoing opioid 
crisis.
  In 2015, there were 5,594 overdose deaths in Appalachia, a drug-
related death rate 65 percent higher than the national average. Sixty-
nine percent of those deaths were a result of opioid abuse.
  The majority of the lives lost were individuals between the ages of 
25 and 44, people who were in their prime working years.
  In my home State of Pennsylvania, the statistics are striking. The 
Drug Enforcement Administration reported that more than 4,600 
Pennsylvanians died in 2016 from drug overdoses, with thousands more 
affected by addiction.
  This is an increase of 37 percent from 2015, with opioids accounting 
for 85 percent of the overdoses.
  These troubling statistics make it clear that the opioid crisis is 
not only destroying lives, it has created a significant challenge to 
workforce and economic development throughout Appalachia.
  In distressed communities like many in Appalachia, economic 
development programs must adapt and become real partners in addressing 
this crisis. One approach is ensuring our economic development agencies 
have the clear authorities they need.
  H.R. 5294 clarifies that ARC funds may be used to facilitate best 
practices among the Appalachian States and support programs designed to 
reduce the harm of opioids to the workforce and economic growth.
  The bill also clarifies funds can be used specifically to attract and 
retain healthcare businesses and workers.
  This is critical, as it will focus on both job creation and, at the 
same time, provide much needed access to healthcare services for those 
struggling with addiction.
  Finally, the bill recognizes that in many areas of Appalachia, 
infrastructure, such as broadband, must be developed to support these 
businesses and innovations like telemedicine.
  I want to thank the gentlewoman from Nevada for cosponsoring this 
important legislation with me, along with the gentleman from Kentucky 
(Mr. Rogers) for his leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and take an 
important step in combating a national epidemic.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5294, the Treating Barriers to 
Prosperity Act of 2018, introduced by subcommittee Chairman Barletta 
and subcommittee Ranking Member Titus.
  The Appalachian Regional Commission, or ARC, as it is known, has made 
significant progress in addressing the persistent poverty and economic 
despair in Appalachia. However, the current opioid epidemic sweeping 
the Nation threatens ARC's progress.
  The high rates of substance abuse and mortality in Appalachia 
compared to the rest of the United States is a serious impediment to 
sustained economic growth.
  Employers are seeking a healthy workforce when making decisions about 
where they will locate their businesses. High rates of substance abuse 
and mortality make it difficult for employers to find and hire 
qualified candidates.

                              {time}  1400

  Appalachia continues to face significant disparities in its journey 
to catch up to the rest of the Nation with respect to educational 
attainment, employment, income, and health outcomes. Sadly, the scourge 
of opioid abuse in Appalachia makes the road only that much longer.
  The opioid mortality and overdose rates in Appalachia are shocking, 
with rates in West Virginia reaching three times the national rate. 
Moreover, drug abuse jeopardizes the region's ability to retain and 
attract economic development with a high-performing workforce that is 
healthy and drug-free. The cycle of despair only continues.
  Unfortunately, this tragic backdrop highlights the failed campaign 
promises of President Trump. President Trump campaigned about the 
scourge of opioids and how he would designate the opioid crisis as a 
national emergency and combat the problem.
  However, the President did not declare this epidemic an emergency 
under the Stafford Act and provided little to no new funding to combat 
this epidemic. Instead, the administration named White House adviser 
Kellyanne Conway, a former pollster with no public health background, 
as the administration's point person on the opioid crisis.
  The opioid epidemic is a full-blown crisis that demands Congress' 
attention. Because President Trump refuses to take substantive action, 
Congress must take the lead on this issue.
  The ARC, in its mission to promote economic development in the 
region, has always understood the grave threat of opioid addiction to 
the economic viability of the region.
  I am grateful and thankful that this bill provides funding 
specifically focused on impediments to job creation and economic 
development; ensures the States in Appalachia can effectively share 
best practices; and ties in clearer authority to attract health-based 
businesses, workers, and technology to the region.
  While the ARC's existing authority has provided ARC the ability to 
support certain efforts to combat the

[[Page H5117]]

opioid crisis, clarifying and strengthening that role is critical to 
economic development in the region.
  We are grateful that the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure has been able to step in in this area of economic 
development and job creation, but we must do more throughout the 
country, not just with opioids but with other drug issues and the 
related scourge in this country.
  I applaud Ranking Member Titus for taking the issue seriously and 
being an original cosponsor of this bill. This bill will address some 
of the impacts of drug abuse on economic development in the Appalachian 
region. I support this bill, and urge my colleagues to support this 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, all of us are painfully aware of 
the devastating toll taken by opioid addiction and abuse in every 
corner of this great country.
  While this epidemic is truly national in its scope today, it actually 
began in the small communities in Appalachia over a decade ago. Our 
hills were flooded with painkillers, our hospitals flooded with 
patients, our churches flooded with helpless parents crying out for 
help. Our rural towns simply did not have the capacity to handle this 
monstrous problem.
  Today, given the unique challenges confronting Appalachia, the 
opioid-related overdose rate is 65 percent higher than in the rest of 
the Nation. Let me repeat that. In Appalachia, the opioid-related 
overdose rate is 65 percent higher than the rest of the country.
  But the people of Appalachia are resilient, and they are problem 
solvers. They have taken important strides to combat this problem 
holistically.
  Operation UNITE in my district, where it began, is a leading national 
example. UNITE, Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and 
Education, is a three-pronged, holistic approach to tackle this 
monster.
  I was really heartened and grateful when Chairman Barletta invited 
Operation UNITE's CEO, Nancy Hale, to testify before his subcommittee 
about the unique challenges UNITE confronts in southern and eastern 
Kentucky, and the creative solutions they have employed to beat back 
against this scourge.
  Today, I remain grateful for his leadership in shepherding H.R. 5294 
through the House floor. This bill will bolster the Appalachian 
Regional Commission's role in combating the opioid epidemic.
  ARC has always been a valued partner in our fight, but this 
legislation clarifies that the commission can and should make targeted 
investments to reduce barriers to workforce development; attract and 
retain healthcare services, businesses, and workers; and develop 
relevant infrastructure, including broadband, which can be used for 
telemedicine treatment.
  These investments are critical for my district and the entire 
Appalachian region, and I urge other Members to support this bill.
  Let me thank, again, Chairman Barletta for his great leadership in 
this problem. He is a recognized expert, and he has proven he cares for 
the people that he represents and that the rest of us represent.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Smith of Nebraska). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) 
that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5294.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________