[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.
____________________