[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 113 (Friday, July 6, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 5002 ACE RESEARCH ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 6, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5002, 
the ACE Research Act.
  It is undeniable that more money, resources, and research needs to go 
into solving the many addictions, diseases, and disorders that face our 
society today.
  H.R. 5002 amends the Public Health Service Act by augmenting the 
National Institutes of Health's research initiatives, by introducing 
more critical research that will strengthen the understanding and yield 
cures to the myriad of health problems that are facing Americans today.
  The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health 
with the necessary authority, resources and support it needs to further 
research and increase the fundamental biological understanding of the 
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders.
  Additionally, the research initiatives undertaken by the National 
Institutes of Health may be supported through transactions other than 
contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements under the ACE Research 
Act.
  The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health 
with the measures to implement high impact, cutting-edge research 
necessary to combat public health threats.
  Further, the National Institutes of Health will be able to partner 
with companies that have the technology and resources to administer 
this cutting-edge research.
  The National Institutes of Health conducts tremendous, groundbreaking 
research that investigates the causes and remedies of diseases, 
addictions, ailments, and other public health areas for all people.
  Moreover, the National Institutes of Health is the leading government 
agency that is responsible for essential public health and biomedical 
research, which helps Americans combat the health concerns that arise 
daily.
  The ACE Research Act will support the National Institutes of Health's 
research initiatives in finding cures to the growing opioid addiction 
in America today.
  Opioid addiction, which includes the overuse of illicit and 
prescription drugs, is taking the lives of Americans across our nation 
each day.
  A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report cited 
63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016 in America, 42,249 of which were 
related to opioid overdoses.
  In 2016, there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths in Texas, 
according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
  In the city of Houston, there were 364 drug-related overdose deaths 
alone that happened in 2016 according to the Treatment Center, a highly 
respected drug and alcohol addiction treatment service center.
  Therefore, it is vital that research is done concerning drug abuse 
and addictions, as it has been a long-term problem in our society.
  According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is 
``a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and 
related circuitry.''
  Addiction is not a choice, a moral feeling, or a lack of will-power; 
it is a disease of the brain that requires proper treatment.
  Addiction is a longstanding mental and physical illness that many 
Americans are facing today, leading to their lives being compromised, 
and in some cases even leading to their death.
  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is overseeing important 
research to respond to this epidemic, and this bill responds favorably 
to its request for more flexibility in conducting research on 
treatments for opioid addiction and other disease areas.
  This research may lead to scientific advances that may find solutions 
to the opioid crisis, as well as solutions to other addictions and 
public health threats.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5002, which will 
expand the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives to 
include valuable research that will address the multitude of health 
concerns facing Americans today.

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