[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5123-H5125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE ACT OF 
                                  2018

  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 5889) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
disseminate information, resources, and if requested, technical 
assistance to early

[[Page H5124]]

childhood care and education providers and professionals working with 
young children on ways to properly recognize and respond to children 
who may be impacted by trauma related to substance abuse.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5889

       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 ``Recognizing Early Childhood 
     Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. RECOGNIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA RELATED TO 
                   SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

       (a) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services shall disseminate information, resources, 
     and, if requested, technical assistance to early childhood 
     care and education providers and professionals working with 
     young children on--
       (1) ways to properly recognize children who may be impacted 
     by trauma related to substance abuse by a family member or 
     other adult, and
       (2) how to respond appropriately in order to provide for 
     the safety and well-being of young children and their 
     families.
       (b) Goals.--The information, resources, and technical 
     assistance provided under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) educate early childhood care and education providers 
     and professionals working with young children on 
     understanding and identifying the early signs and risk 
     factors of children who might be impacted by trauma due to 
     exposure to substance abuse,
       (2) suggest age-appropriate communication tools, 
     procedures, and practices for trauma-informed care, including 
     ways to prevent or mitigate the effects of trauma,
       (3) provide options for responding to children impacted by 
     trauma due to exposure to substance abuse that consider the 
     needs of the child and family, including recommending 
     resources and referrals for evidence-based services to 
     support such family, and
       (4) promote whole-family and multi-generational approaches 
     to prevent separation and support re-unification of families 
     whenever possible and in the best interest of the child.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Such information, resources, and 
     if applicable, technical assistance, shall not be construed 
     to amend the requirements under--
       (1) the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
     (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.),
       (2) the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), or
       (3) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Brat) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 5889.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5889, Recognizing Early 
Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018.
  Last year, we lost more Virginians to opioid overdoses than any other 
year in the last decade. For 5 years now, fatal drug overdoses are the 
leading cause of unnatural death in Virginia.
  In 2017, the average overdose rate across Virginia was 14 per 1,000 
people. But in Henrico County, the rate has increased from 11.5 in 2015 
to 19.6 in 2017. In fact, 87 percent of inmates in Henrico County 
identified drug involvement as being a direct or an indirect reason for 
their incarceration. That is 87 percent. Out of the 1,007 inmates 
jailed for drug involvement, a plurality began using at age 13.
  The largest overdose rate last year was in Culpeper County, which 
increased from about 22.5 per 1,000 people in 2015 to 38 in 2017. We 
are losing friends, family members, and neighbors every day.
  Last November, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a 
hearing to examine how opioids are impacting communities across 
America. During the hearing, members heard testimony from Ms. Toni 
Miner, a family support partner for Child and Youth Leadership who uses 
her own past struggle with drug abuse to help other families and 
children who need help overcoming addiction. In her testimony, Miner 
told members that: ``Addiction is a family disease, and if the whole 
family is not treated, history will continue to repeat itself.''
  One of the unintended consequences of the opioid epidemic is that 
addiction has devastated not only the lives of users, but the lives of 
their families as well. Maybe the most tragic reality of this epidemic 
is it has devastated the lives of our children.
  Half of opioid overdose deaths occur among men and women ages 25 to 
44, and many of these individuals are parents. The number of children 
in the U.S. foster care system is increasing, and a recent study showed 
almost one in three children who were placed in the foster care system 
in 2015 entered at least partially due to parental drug abuse.
  In Virginia, there were 5,295 children in foster care as of April. 
These children, and those living with an addicted caregiver, experience 
unimaginable hardship and trauma and, thus, have unique needs. When 
these tragedies occur, the children need the community's help.
  The professionals working at child care homes and centers, Head Start 
programs, faith-based organizations, camps, doctors' offices, and many 
other places are in a special position to identify and assist children 
affected by substance abuse. However, they may not have the preparation 
and education needed to recognize the risk factor associated with 
childhood trauma due to an adult's substance abuse.
  Information and resources from the Department of Health and Human 
Services could help educate child care and early education providers 
how to identify risk factors and respond appropriately when faced with 
a child experiencing trauma related to substance abuse. Such 
information and resources will help keep more children safe while 
aiding in the healthy development and well-being of the child and 
promoting whole-family approaches whenever possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5889, which would help reduce 
childhood trauma by requiring the Department of Health and Human 
Services to provide information and technical assistance to early 
childhood professionals about the best ways to help treat children 
struggling with trauma related to substance abuse exposure. Children 
exposed to adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are more likely to 
suffer from substance use disorder later in life. We can save money and 
lives by better supporting these children.
  I recently held a listening tour throughout northwest Oregon to 
better understand how opioids are devastating our communities and to 
identify and discuss the tools we need to combat this epidemic. I heard 
from healthcare professionals, families who lost loved ones, 
individuals in recovery, and community leaders, who all called for 
greater Federal investment to fight back against opioids. One of the 
discussions I convened focuses specifically on the needs of children 
and how we can better support them to succeed both in the classroom and 
in life.
  Busy educators and other early childhood professionals now often find 
themselves serving as first responders to a growing crisis. Some 
schools in my home State of Oregon are adopting a trauma-informed care 
approach to better support affected students.
  For instance, Warrenton Grade School, which I recently visited, is a 
shining example. They are deliberately building a ``culture of care'' 
that focuses on meeting the emotional needs of children hand-in-hand 
with their academic growth.

                              {time}  1500

  Schools and especially school-based health centers are already facing 
budget shortages and urgently need additional resources for prevention 
programs and for screening.
  I encourage my colleagues to support the passage of this legislation, 
but this bill will not be effective if we don't invest in comprehensive 
supports for young children and their parents.
  Traumatic events during childhood often trigger substance abuse later 
in

[[Page H5125]]

life. It is vital that we support early learning initiatives to provide 
children the comprehensive support they need, including programs like 
Head Start and home visiting programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Brat and Congressman 
O'Halleran for their work on this legislation. I know they care a lot 
about this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran), a cosponsor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act.
  I thank the gentleman from Virginia for teaming up with me to protect 
and help the most vulnerable victims of the opioid epidemic ravaging 
our communities across America and our children.
  As a former police officer, I know what the impacts of addiction and 
overdoses can do to young family members. The trauma is real, and the 
effects can be lifelong for many innocent kids. We know from research 
that this type of trauma can affect school performance, behavior, and 
the likelihood of substance abuse years later.
  Nobody is more deserving of our attention and our resources than 
these kids. It is why I was proud to introduce the Recognizing Early 
Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act with my colleague. This 
bipartisan bill will help address and reduce childhood trauma caused by 
the abuse of illegal substances by parents and guardians.
  The rising abuse of opioids and other illegal drugs is not only 
devastating communities across this great Nation; it is jeopardizing 
the futures of millions of young children who are living through untold 
traumatic experiences. This commonsense bipartisan legislation will 
support early childhood professionals, give them the tools they need to 
identify trauma, and support kids with age-appropriate resources.
  In rural America, skyrocketing overdose rates have had a tremendous 
impact on every aspect of our communities, including our schools and 
our early-childhood institutions. In Arizona, opioid and heroin 
overdose rates have risen sharply since 2012.
  It is past time for action to bring resources into our neighborhoods 
and tackle these issues. Kids affected by substance abuse disorder need 
our attention now to ensure every single one of them has the bright 
future they deserve. I am glad Congress agrees and is working across 
the aisle to take this important step forward.
  I thank the chairman and ranking member for their support on this 
bill, and I look forward to its passage and implementation at this 
urgent time for families across America and the Nation.
  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Congresswoman 
Bonamici, for her great work in committee and for her always keen 
insights and great presentation today as well.
  I would also like to personally thank the sheriffs back at home. I am 
referring to Henrico Sheriff Mike Wade and Chesterfield County Sheriff 
Karl Leonard. I thank them for helping with the statistics they do and 
for their recovery programs back at home in Chesterfield and Henrico. 
They do outstanding work, along with some of the other recovery folks. 
John Shinholser and many of our faith community work hand in hand on 
this across the aisle.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5889, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to thank Congressman 
Brat and Congressman O'Halleran for their work on this important 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barton). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Brat) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5889.
  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.

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