[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 17, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5809-H5811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         STATE OPIOID RESPONSE GRANT AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2020

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2466) to extend the State Opioid Response Grants program, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2466

       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 ``State Opioid Response Grant 
     Authorization Act of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATE AND TRIBAL RESPONSE TO 
                   SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS OF SIGNIFICANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 1003 of the 21st Century Cures Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 290ee-3 note) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 1003. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATE AND TRIBAL RESPONSE TO 
                   SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS OF SIGNIFICANCE.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services (referred to in this section as the `Secretary') 
     shall carry out the grant program described in subsection (b) 
     for purposes of addressing substance use disorders of 
     significance, including opioid and stimulant use disorders, 
     within States, Indian Tribes, and populations served by 
     Tribal organizations and Urban Indian organizations.
       ``(b) Grants Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian 
     organizations for the purpose of addressing substance use 
     disorders of significance, including opioid and stimulant use 
     disorders, within such States, such Indian Tribes, and 
     populations served by such Tribal organizations and Urban 
     Indian organizations, in accordance with paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Minimum allocations; preference.--In awarding grants 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) ensure that each State and the District of Columbia 
     receives not less than $4,000,000; and
       ``(B) give preference to States, Indian Tribes, Tribal 
     organizations, and Urban Indian organizations whose 
     populations have an incidence or prevalence of opioid use 
     disorders that is substantially higher relative to the 
     populations of other States, Indian Tribes, Tribal 
     organizations, or Urban Indian organizations, as applicable.
       ``(3) Formula methodology.--Not less than 15 days before 
     publishing a funding opportunity announcement with respect to 
     grants under this section, the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) develop a formula methodology to be followed in 
     allocating grant funds awarded under this section among 
     grantees, which includes performance assessments for 
     continuation awards; and
       ``(B) submit the formula methodology to--
       ``(I) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; 
     and
       ``(ii) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 
     Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
       ``(4) Use of funds.--Grants awarded under this subsection 
     shall be used for carrying out activities that supplement 
     activities pertaining to substance use disorders of 
     significance, including opioid and stimulant use disorders, 
     undertaken by the State agency responsible for administering 
     the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant 
     under subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x-21 et seq.), which may include 
     public health-related activities such as the following:
       ``(A) Implementing prevention activities, and evaluating 
     such activities to identify effective strategies to prevent 
     substance use disorders.
       ``(B) Establishing or improving prescription drug 
     monitoring programs.
       ``(C) Training for health care practitioners, such as best 
     practices for prescribing opioids, pain management, 
     recognizing potential cases of substance abuse, referral of 
     patients to treatment programs, preventing diversion of 
     controlled substances, and overdose prevention.
       ``(D) Supporting access to health care services, 
     including--
       ``(i) services provided by federally certified opioid 
     treatment programs;
       ``(ii) outpatient and residential substance use disorder 
     treatment services that utilize medication-assisted 
     treatment, as appropriate; or
       ``(iii) other appropriate health care providers to treat 
     substance use disorders.
       ``(E) Recovery support services, including community-based 
     services that include peer supports, address housing needs, 
     and address family issues.
       ``(F) Other public health-related activities, as the State, 
     Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian 
     organization determines appropriate, related to addressing 
     substance use disorders within the State, Indian Tribe, 
     Tribal organization, or Urban Tribal organization, including 
     directing resources in accordance with local needs related to 
     substance use disorders.
       ``(c) Accountability and Oversight.--A State receiving a 
     grant under subsection (b) shall include in reporting related 
     to substance abuse submitted to the Secretary pursuant to 
     section 1942 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     300x-52), a description of--
       ``(1) the purposes for which the grant funds received by 
     the State under such subsection for the preceding fiscal year 
     were expended and a description of the activities of the 
     State under the grant; and
       ``(2) the ultimate recipients of amounts provided to the 
     State through the grant.
       ``(d) Limitations.--Any funds made available pursuant to 
     subsection (i) shall be subject to the same requirements as 
     substance abuse prevention and treatment programs under 
     titles V and XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     290aa et seq., 300w et seq.).
       ``(e) Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian 
     Organizations.--The Secretary, in consultation with Indian 
     Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations, 
     shall identify and establish appropriate mechanisms for 
     Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian 
     organizations to demonstrate or report the information as 
     required under subsections (b), (c), and (d).
       ``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than September 30, 
     2022, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
     to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives, and the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate, a report summarizing the information provided to the 
     Secretary in reports made pursuant to subsections (c) and 
     (e), including the purposes for which grant funds are awarded 
     under this section and the activities of such grant 
     recipients.
       ``(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary, including 
     through the Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center 
     of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
     Administration, shall provide States, Indian Tribes, Tribal 
     organizations, and Urban Indian organizations, as applicable, 
     with technical assistance concerning grant application and 
     submission procedures under this section, award management 
     activities, and enhancing outreach and direct support to 
     rural and underserved communities and providers in addressing 
     substance use disorders.
       ``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the 
     meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 4 of the 
     Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
     U.S.C. 5304).
       ``(2) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization' 
     has the meaning given the term `tribal organization' in 
     section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
     Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
       ``(3) Urban indian organization.--The term `Urban Indian 
     organization' has the meaning given to that term in section 4 
     of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
       ``(4) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 1954(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 300x-64(b)).
       ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of carrying out the grant 
     program under subsection (b), there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $1,585,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
     through 2026, to remain available until expended.
       ``(2) Federal administrative expenses.--Of the amounts made 
     available for each fiscal year to award grants under 
     subsection (b), the Secretary shall not use more than 2 
     percent for Federal administrative expenses, training, 
     technical assistance, and evaluation.
       ``(3) Set aside.--Of the amounts made available for each 
     fiscal year to award grants under subsection (b) for a fiscal 
     year, the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) award 5 percent to Indian Tribes, Tribal 
     organizations, and Urban Indian organizations; and
       ``(B) of the remaining amount, set aside up to 15 percent 
     for States with the highest age-adjusted rate of drug 
     overdose death based on the ordinal ranking of States 
     according to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention.''.

[[Page H5810]]

       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 
     1(b) of such Act is amended by striking the item relating to 
     section 1003 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 1003. Grant program for State and Tribal response to substance 
              use disorders of significance.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. 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. 2466.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2466, the State Opioid 
Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020.
  While the coronavirus pandemic is at the forefront of our minds, the 
opioid epidemic and evolving drug crisis also continues to be a public 
health emergency that we must also address.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more 
than 750,000 Americans have died since 1999 from a drug overdose, and 
in 2018 two out of three drug overdose deaths involved an opioid. 
Recent data from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 
indicates that over 20 million Americans have a substance use disorder 
and, unfortunately, only a fraction of those Americans receive the care 
they need.
  Building upon congressional efforts like the 21st Century Cures Act 
and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, this bill would 
authorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, or SAMHSA, State Opioid Response, SOR, grant program 
and align the authorization with authorities in the 21st Century Cures 
Act to meet the current needs of States. Assistant Secretary for 
Health, Admiral Brett Giroir, testified before our committee, Mr. 
Speaker, that SAMHSA's SOR grants provide a high degree of flexibility 
to States working to combat the drug epidemic.
  The SAMHSA SOR grant program has been funded through appropriations 
legislation since fiscal year 2018, but it does not have a statutory 
authorization. With this bill, we are ensuring that both the Federal 
support and flexibility continue into the future.
  Currently, SOR grants help communities tackle the drug crisis by 
reducing barriers to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use 
disorder, effectively chipping away at the treatment gap. The grants 
aid in reducing drug overdose-related deaths by supporting prevention 
and recovery activities across the States. This program also supports 
evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery support services to 
address stimulant misuse and use disorders, which is a growing issue, 
also, in many regions of the country.
  So I commend the lead sponsors of this legislation, Representatives 
Trone, Armstrong, Sherrill, and Riggleman, and their staffs for their 
tireless work on this bill. I also thank the Democratic and Republican 
members of the committee, as well as bipartisan committee staff, for 
working together to move this bill. I hope that the Senate will act on 
this legislation sooner rather than later.
  Mr. Speaker, the drug crisis continues to affect all walks of life. 
They are our friends, our family, and our neighbors.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of H.R. 2466, the State Opioid 
Response Grant Authorization Act which, as you heard, was introduced by 
Representatives Trone, Armstrong, Sherrill, and Riggleman.
  I would like to thank Representative Trone for leading this work on 
this bill and for working with us to get the language to a good place. 
We appreciate that.
  When I chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee, I think we passed 
out something like 60 or more pieces of legislation dealing with the 
opioid crisis. All of them were cosponsored by Democrats and 
Republicans--bipartisan effort--that became the SUPPORT Act signed by 
President Trump into law now almost over 2 years ago. I just want to 
say this epidemic continues, and so does our work. It has been made 
worse by the pandemic as people have turned to these sorts of 
medications to help themselves cope, and it is sad.
  This important bill would authorize appropriations for the Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's State Opioid Response 
grant program by placing it under the 21st Century Cures Act, which 
first established State Response to Opioid Abuse Crisis grants.
  The United States remains in the midst of this opioid crisis, and it 
has been exacerbated, as I said, by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Federal 
grants have provided a substantial level of support for innovative and 
lifesaving programs in States across the country that are on the front-
lines of addressing substance use disorders. By authorizing this grant 
program and aligning it with the initiatives established in the 21st 
Century Cures Act, H.R. 2466 would ensure continued, reliable support 
for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.
  Of course, Mr. Speaker, I strongly lend my support to passage of this 
legislation, and I join with the chairman of the committee, Mr. 
Pallone, in urging our colleagues across the building to act swiftly on 
this.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Trone), who is the sponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support 
my bill, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act. This bill 
directly addresses the country's worsening opioid crisis as we continue 
to see overdose deaths surge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  This bipartisan bill authorizes $9 billion over 6 years in flexible 
funding through grants for States and Tribes to fight the opioid 
epidemic on the front lines.
  This bill helps provide States the steady, sustained, and consistent 
money they need for programs to: Prevent addiction through evidence-
based programs;

  Increase access to outpatient and residential treatment, particularly 
through medication-assisted treatment;
  Prevent overdoses by expanding naloxone distribution;
  And support individuals in recovery with recovery housing and peer 
supports.
  Since 2000, there have been over 550,000 deaths from opioids, and the 
CDC estimates the cost to our country is $78.5 billion per year. There 
is no magic bullet to fix the opioid crisis. There will be no vaccine. 
We need consistent funding to help save these lives.
  Last year, nearly 71,000 people died from an overdose--the most ever. 
The COVID-19 pandemic will push these numbers even higher.
  In western Maryland, we have seen an increase of overdose deaths from 
the first half of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019 by 46 percent 
up in Washington County, 50 percent up in Garrett County, and 54 
percent up in Allegany County.
  Across the country, over 40 States have reported an increase in 
overdose deaths since the start of this pandemic. These numbers are 
absolutely tragic and unacceptable. We must act.
  Mr. Speaker, the opioid epidemic does not know the color of your 
skin, where you live, or your political party. The opioid epidemic 
destroys everything in its path.
  It hit my family, too. On December 31, 2016, my nephew, Ian Jacob 
Trone, died alone in a hotel room from a fentanyl overdose.

                              {time}  1245

  Ian was in recovery for 13 of the last 16 months of his life, but it 
only took one moment to take him away from us forever.
  Mr. Speaker, when I came to Congress, I spoke to the Governor of our 
State, county and State leaders, hospital administrators, direct 
providers,

[[Page H5811]]

and stakeholders across the country, from Georgia to Kentucky to North 
Dakota. I spoke to treatment services across my district: Awakenings 
Recovery in Hagerstown; Fort Recovery in Cumberland; Ideal Option in 
Frederick; Wells/Robertson House in Montgomery County; and Brooke's 
House in Hagerstown.
  The message I heard from everyone was loud and clear: State, local, 
and Tribal governments need the Federal Government to be a steady 
partner in the fight against addiction.
  I thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden of the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, and the Energy Subcommittee on Health 
Chairwoman Eshoo and Ranking Member Burgess, for considering this bill.
  I also extend my sincere thanks to Freshmen Working Group on 
Addiction members Kelly Armstrong, Mikie Sherrill, and Denver Riggleman 
for helping me introduce this bill.
  I want to take a moment to call out and thank Congressman Riggleman, 
who has been a fantastic member of our working group and a champion on 
this issue. He will be greatly missed in this institution.
  Together, the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction has introduced over 
50 bipartisan bills to address addiction and mental health in the last 
2 years. We have shown what is possible if you put aside partisan 
politics, focus on an issue, and work hard to make real change.
  Investing in this bill's grants will save lives and save money.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want my friend from Maryland to know that we all are 
sympathetic to what his family has gone through and the loss that he 
has suffered. That is a very difficult story to tell.
  When we were working on all the legislation in the last Congress, I 
met with a lot of families who had suffered similar fates, and it is 
just a tragedy. So I commend him for his work in a bipartisan way on 
this issue.
  And our friend from Virginia, Mr. Riggleman, who I am going to yield 
to, he has been a terrific legislator during his term in Congress and a 
good friend. I know how deeply he cares about this issue, and his 
willingness to work in a bipartisan way should be recognized by all of 
us.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Riggleman).
  Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Representative 
Walden, Congressman Pallone, and also   David Trone.
  Our Freshman Working Group has been incredible on this issue. It is 
interesting how it has come full circle.
  Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, in my very first speech on the floor of the 
House of Representatives, I called on Congress to act and address the 
opioid addiction crisis that causes tens of thousands of deaths every 
year. During the 2 years since that speech, I have been working hard to 
provide solutions and take positive steps to address the crisis.
  I also have become more aware of the harm the opioid epidemic has 
caused in our streets and in our districts. I have seen how the crisis 
has affected the friends and the family members of so many, including 
some in this Chamber today, like my dear friend   David Trone, who 
tragically lost his nephew to an opioid overdose.
  I have been personally affected by this crisis, and I know the toll 
it takes on those affected and the people who love them. I was sitting 
at my desk in Congress about 1 year ago when I got the call that my 
cousin Trey had overdosed, not far from where I was sitting. I talked 
about this with Congressman Trone. We knew we had to do something.
  I think that is why we have to thank Members like Representative 
Sherrill and Representative Armstrong for their incredible support in 
this.
  Trey and Ian, I think this bill is for them and all the people who 
have suffered through this incredible scourge.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today starts to address some of those 
challenges and is a positive step toward combating the very real crisis 
of opioid addiction that has had devastating consequences for families 
across this Nation.
  Obviously, I strongly support H.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response 
Grant Authorization Act of 2020. Not only must Congress act to address 
this crisis, but we must lead. I chose to colead this bill because it 
will help countless numbers of my constituents, and it is the right 
thing to do. But I have to applaud the efforts of my dear friend   
David Trone and all the members of the Freshmen Working Group on 
Addiction.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Again, I 
don't think I can say this any stronger: This bill is for Trey and Ian, 
and this bill is for all those affected by the overdoses, the awfulness 
that happens within each family.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers on this important 
legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge my colleagues to support the 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, America's opioid crisis is far from 
resolved.
  According to the American Medical Association, over 40 states have 
reported an increase in opioid overdose deaths since the beginning of 
the pandemic.
  Despite the steady decrease in opioid related deaths in 2017, 2018, 
and 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the opioid epidemic in 
Rhode Island.
  Opioid overdose remains the leading cause of accidental death in 
Rhode Island.
  In the first seven months of 2020, Rhode Island experienced a 33 
percent increase in overdose deaths compared to the same period last 
year.
  And every day we are at risk of losing more and more people to 
overdoses, with recent numbers showing that Black and Hispanic Rhode 
Islanders are disproportionately experiencing overdose related deaths.
  Over the years, State Opioid Response funding has been critical to 
responding to this deadly epidemic. This funding has helped to provide 
Rhode Islanders with adequate resources to combat drug abuse and 
prevent overdoses before they turn deadly.
  State Opioid Response funding has allowed for more support and 
treatment for people suffering from addiction to get the help they need 
and put them on a path toward recovery.
  This funding increases access to naloxone so that people in our 
communities are trained on identifying an opioid overdose and know how 
to stop the harmful effects of overdose.
  As we say in Rhode Island, ``an overdose doesn't mean it's over. 
Naloxone saves lives.''
  State Opioid Response funding saves lives.
  While we continue to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, we must 
also ensure that states' are supported to continue their fight against 
the opioid epidemic.
  I thank Representative Trone for introducing H.R. 2466, the State 
Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020 to make sure we meet 
the needs of responding to the opioid epidemic in communities across 
this country.
  I urge my colleague to support this important legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2466, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________