[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 99 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATING MANHEIM TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL BOYS LACROSSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Manheim 
Township High School boys lacrosse team, who recently won the program's 
first-ever PIAA State title. The Blue Streaks defeated La Salle, 6 to 
4, in the PIAA Class 3A championship game this past Saturday to bring 
the title to Lancaster County.
  Manheim Township of District 3 became the first school from outside 
Districts 1 or 12 to win the boys lacrosse title since the tournament 
began. This historic championship is a fitting end to an excellent 
season that also included a program best 26-1 record and both the 
Lancaster-Lebanon League and District 3 titles. These young men have 
put in countless hours of hard work to achieve this incredible result.
  As I have said before, high school sports are about more than just 
winning. They are about teaching our children valuable skills such as 
teamwork, commitment, and perseverance. They build character and create 
memories that will last a lifetime. These young men have displayed 
these valuable skills throughout their entire season, and I am proud to 
represent them. I look forward to the team's future successes.
  Congratulations to the Manheim Township High School boys lacrosse 
team, the coaches, their families, and the faculty, staff, and students 
who enabled this historic title.


                       Combating Opioid Epidemic

  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address another topic this 
morning. I want to speak in support of the House's efforts to combat 
the opioid epidemic that has swept across Pennsylvania and across the 
Nation. This week, the House is voting on more than 30 opioid-related 
bills, with many more to come next week as well.
  Sadly, you would be hard-pressed today to find someone who hasn't 
been impacted by this epidemic or who doesn't know someone who has. It 
transcends socioeconomic and geographic lines and makes no distinction 
between age, income, race, gender, or politics.
  Hundreds of thousands of American lives have been cut short by drug 
abuse. In my region of Pennsylvania, prescription drugs, heroin, and 
fentanyl are the leading causes of death in several communities. In 
fact, our region has experienced a 23 percent increase in opioid-
related deaths in 2018 as compared to the same time period in 2017.
  Too many families feel broken and feel lost. Those whom we know 
personally--our neighbors, our family, and our friends--are working to 
save the lives of those whom they love.
  Our constituents should know that we here in Congress have their 
backs. They should know that we are working to provide them with the 
resources necessary to prevent addiction, to treat abuse, and to help 
families and individuals recover.
  This week and next, the House is passing legislation that changes the 
way opioids are prescribed and encourages alternative methods and 
medications to treat pain. We are cracking down on deadly synthetic 
drugs like fentanyl. We are giving law enforcement tools to get 
dangerous drugs off our streets and out of our communities, and we are 
improving data used to help at-risk patients, families, and those who 
are already struggling with addiction.
  Our communities are coming together and standing side by side to help 
each other through this difficult time. Those struggling with addiction 
and their family and friends are getting some much-needed assistance 
from Congress. Both in Washington and in Pennsylvania, I will continue 
to work with my colleagues, community leaders, healthcare 
professionals, and law enforcement to prioritize an immediate and 
effective response to save the lives of those we love.

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