[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 157 (Monday, September 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 355--SUPPORTING THE RECOGNITION AND GOALS OF OVERDOSE 
                   AWARENESS DAY IN THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. MARKEY (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Brown, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. 
Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Blumenthal) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 355

       Whereas more than 750,000 individuals in the United States 
     have died from a drug overdose since 1999;
       Whereas substance use disorders and drug overdoses affect 
     all socioeconomic groups, racial and ethnic groups, 
     geographic regions, and ages;
       Whereas substance use disorders are a chronic disease, and 
     recognizing those disorders as such decreases stigma and 
     acknowledges that substance use may be beyond the control of 
     an individual;
       Whereas overdose deaths are preventable, and lives can be 
     saved through awareness, prevention, intervention, treatment, 
     and recovery support;
       Whereas overdose deaths claimed more than 93,000 lives in 
     the United States in 2020, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
     (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to the acceleration of 
     overdose deaths;
       Whereas communities across the United States have been 
     pained by substance use disorders through the premature loss 
     of lives and the stigma associated with drug-related 
     fatalities; and
       Whereas numerous States across the United States have 
     lowered their State flags in recognition of Overdose 
     Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the recognition and goals of Overdose 
     Awareness Day in the United States; and
       (2) encourages all Federal buildings in the United States 
     to lower their flags to half-staff on August 31 of each year 
     to support awareness of overdoses.

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