[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 200 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WE MUST ACT ON THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

  (Mr. SCHNEIDER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues 
to act on the opioid epidemic roiling our Nation.
  Today, we learned that between May of 2020 and April of 2021, more 
than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, a grim, grim record.
  Drug overdoses now surpass deaths from car crashes and gun violence. 
Fentanyl alone was responsible for more overdoses than there were in 
all of 2016, just five years ago.
  We must expand access to medications like naloxone, which reverse an 
opioid overdose, and mental health services to crack down on overdose 
deaths from synthetics and opioids. Congress cannot do it alone.
  In every community across the country, there are dedicated public 
servants and committed groups working to combat these figures and help 
individuals and families. Groups like the Lake County Opioid Initiative 
in my district, cofounded by Mike Nerheim and Chelsea Laliberte-Barnes.
  After 8 years, Mike is stepping down as chair, and Chelsea is 
stepping up. I thank Mike for his leadership, and as the cofounder and 
advocacy strategist for Live4Lali. I know Chelsea will continue the 
great work of LCOI at this critical time.
  Now Congress must help Mike, Chelsea, and the countless others around 
the country for whom this fight is so personal.

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