[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH

  The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Trone) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of more than 23 million Americans who are in recovery.
  September is National Recovery Month. In 2019 we are celebrating 30 
years of that designation. We are marking that today in Congress with 
an effort we are calling ``Congress Goes Purple''.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues Denver Riggleman, Annie 
Kuster, and Brian Fitzpatrick for partnering with me to make this 
happen.
  Those among us who are struggling with mental health concerns or 
substance use disorder need to know there is no shame in seeking help. 
Their journey to recovery is something to be celebrated.
  These disorders don't discriminate, and neither should we in helping 
find people a path back. I came to Congress to help make recovery a 
real possibility for more Americans.
  Starting in the mid-1990s, we have seen opioids invade and destroy 
families across America. From the district I represent in Maryland to 
big cities and small towns across the country, there is not a single 
community that has not been fully spared from the devastating effects 
of the opioid epidemic. It is a true crisis.
  For the first time in 100 years, we have seen life expectancy decline 
for 3 straight years in this country. Americans are dying sooner than 
their parents' generation, and we can blame the opioid epidemic.
  The numbers are staggering. Last year, we saw over 70,000 people die 
of a drug overdose. More Americans have died in 1 year of drug overdose 
than from the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq combined.
  Behind each one of those numbers is a person. Behind each one of 
those numbers is a family and a community that feels the immense pain 
and loss. My family was one of those.
  In 2016, on New Year's Eve, my nephew Ian Jacob Trone died of a 
fentanyl overdose. He was 24 years old, and he died alone in his hotel 
room.
  I worked with Ian for over 5 years while he was struggling with 
addiction. We tried treatment centers and halfway houses and mental 
health specialists. I worked closely with him to do everything I could 
to get him the help he needed, and we still lost him.
  Unfortunately, it is not just addiction numbers that are staggering. 
SAMHSA estimates in 2017, over 19 million people in the U.S. 
experienced substance use disorder, but of that group, 8.5 million also 
had a co-occurring mental illness.
  This is the most important issue in America. We must act now and stop 
more people from losing their lives. I know if we are going to make a 
difference, then all of us, including the Federal Government, need to 
act. That is why, as a new Member of Congress, ending the opioid 
addiction epidemic is my number one priority.
  I have started a bipartisan freshman working group, which is now 
composed of 64 lawmakers from 31 States all dedicated to ending this 
epidemic. Together, we are pushing bills that will bring consistent 
funding and resources to those on the front lines who are fighting this 
every day. Most importantly, we are doing this together, both Democrats 
and Republicans. Every action we take is bipartisan. We need to work 
together if we are going to end the stigma around mental health and 
substance use disorders.
  Right now someone suffering from substance use disorder is being 
thrown into jail instead of getting the treatment they need. We need to 
start treating this like the disease that it is. Instead of locking 
people up in jail, we need to reach out and give those that are 
struggling a helping hand.
  That is why the message of National Recovery Month is so powerful. We 
can be that village. Together, we know this is a disease, not a crime. 
Together, we can put the focus on recovery so that no one has to do 
this alone.
  Madam Speaker, I pledge to do everything in my power to make sure we 
end it. I thank the Representatives wearing purple today for 
recognizing the importance of National Recovery Month.

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