[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 206 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6693-H6694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SYNTHETIC OPIOID DANGER AWARENESS ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2364) to amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to
direct the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, to provide for a public education
campaign to raise public awareness of synthetic opioids, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2364
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 ``Synthetic Opioid Danger
Awareness Act''.
SEC. 2. SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act is
amended by inserting after section 317U (42 U.S.C. 247b-23)
the following new section:
``SEC. 317V. SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
``(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall provide
for the planning and implementation of a public education
campaign to raise public awareness of synthetic opioids
(including fentanyl and its analogues). Such campaign shall
include the dissemination of information that--
``(1) promotes awareness about the potency and dangers of
fentanyl and its analogues and other synthetic opioids;
``(2) explains services provided by the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (and any entity providing such
services under a contract entered into with such agencies)
with respect to the misuse of opioids, particularly as such
services relate to the provision of alternative, non-opioid
pain management treatments; and
``(3) relates generally to opioid use and pain management.
``(b) Use of Media.--The campaign under subsection (a) may
be implemented through the use of television, radio,
internet, in-person public communications, and other
commercial marketing venues and may be targeted to specific
age groups.
``(c) Consideration of Report Findings.--In planning and
implementing the public education campaign under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the findings
of the report required under section 7001 of the SUPPORT for
Patients and Communities Act (Public Law 115-271).
``(d) Consultation.--In coordinating the campaign under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to
provide ongoing advice on the effectiveness of information
disseminated through the campaign.
``(e) Requirement of Campaign.--The campaign implemented
under subsection (a) shall not be duplicative of any other
Federal efforts relating to eliminating the misuse of
opioids.
``(f) Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
campaign implemented under subsection (a) is subject to an
independent evaluation, beginning 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter.
``(2) Measures and benchmarks.--For purposes of an
evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
``(A) establish baseline measures and benchmarks to
quantitatively evaluate the impact of the campaign under this
section; and
``(B) conduct qualitative assessments regarding the
effectiveness of strategies employed under this section.
``(g) Report.--The Secretary shall, beginning 2 years after
the date of the enactment of this section, and every 2 years
thereafter, submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness
of the campaign implemented under subsection (a) towards
meeting the measures and benchmarks established under
subsection (e)(2).
``(h) Dissemination of Information Through Providers.--The
Secretary shall develop and implement a plan for the
dissemination of information related to synthetic opioids, to
health care providers who participate in Federal programs,
including programs administered by the Department of Health
and Human Services, the Indian Health Service, the Department
of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the
Health Resources and Services Administration, the Medicare
program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and the
Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act.''.
SEC. 3. TRAINING GUIDE AND OUTREACH ON SYNTHETIC OPIOID
EXPOSURE PREVENTION.
(a) Training Guide.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall design, publish, and make publicly
available on the internet website of the Department of Health
and Human Services, a training guide and webinar for first
responders and other individuals who also may be at high risk
of exposure to synthetic opioids that details measures to
prevent that exposure.
(b) Outreach.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall also conduct outreach about the availability
of the training guide and webinar published under subsection
(a) to--
(1) police and fire managements;
(2) sheriff deputies in city and county jails;
(3) ambulance transport and hospital emergency room
personnel;
(4) clinicians; and
(5) other high-risk occupations, as identified by the
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) 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
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include any extraneous material on H.R. 2364.
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, we have hit a tragic milestone in our battle against the
opioid overdose crisis. From April 2020 to April 2021, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention estimated that over 100,000 people died
due to drug overdoses, no doubt exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Synthetic opioids like fentanyl and fentanyl analogs significantly
contributed to overdose deaths. In 2019, the CDC estimated that more
than half of overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids and drugs mixed
with synthetic opioids, such as methamphetamine and cocaine mixed with
fentanyl.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has worked throughout the pandemic
to address this crisis. The American Rescue Plan, passed and signed
into law earlier this year, included the largest-ever funding boost of
over $3 billion for mental health and substance abuse block grants to
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or
SAMHSA. That $3 billion in funding has gone to critical services for
addiction treatment, prevention, harm reduction, and recovery.
H.R. 2364, the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, provides an
additional tool to address one piece of the opioid crisis. This bill
requires the Department of Health and Human Services to launch a public
education campaign on the health risks associated with synthetic
opioids and services available to address misuse of these products.
Further, HHS would be required to disseminate information regarding
synthetic opioids to healthcare providers.
The bill also directs HHS to produce training materials for first
responders and other professionals at a higher occupational risk of
coming into contact with synthetic opioids. It also requires the agency
to conduct outreach about the availability of these materials in order
to help those on the front lines be aware of the risks associated with
synthetic opioids.
The bill is another step the Energy and Commerce Committee has taken
to address the opioid crisis and protect the health and safety of our
communities. The committee passed this legislation with unanimous,
bipartisan support in July.
I want to thank my New Jersey delegation colleague, Representative
Kim, and Representative Pappas of New Hampshire for leading this
important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2364, the
Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2364, the Synthetic
Opioid Danger Awareness Act. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and
fentanyl-related substances, have been the primary drivers of the rise
in overdose deaths that we have seen over the past year and beyond.
[[Page H6694]]
H.R. 2364 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
implement a public education campaign related to synthetic opioids.
Additionally, the Secretary is required to publish a training guidance
and webinar for first responders and other individuals to better
understand synthetic opioid exposure prevention. This campaign will
promote awareness around the dangers of synthetic opioids and provide
information about available services to address synthetic opioid abuse.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2364, the
``Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act'', which will require several
federal agencies to provide education and training related to synthetic
opioids, including fentanyl and its analogues.
The CDC reports that more than 93,000 Americans died from drug
overdoses in 2020, an almost 30 percent increase from 2019.
Regardless of income, race, gender, education, or other demographics,
America's opiate problem has morphed into a full-blown public health
crisis.
Synthetic opioids contribute greatly to this drug crisis and are a
serious threat to fire fighters and emergency medical responders who
are susceptible to encountering these deadly substances.
Increased rates of opiate usage impact the types and volume of calls
the fire service responds to and the dangers they encounter when they
arrive on the scene, both of which stretch already limited resources
even thinner.
A 2021 Statista study found that nearly two-thirds of all fire
department responses are for medical aid.
When firefighters or EMS personnel come in contact with opioids--
either through direct contact or secondary contamination--this creates
a unique, and often unknown, risk for these individuals because many
opioids can be ingested either by skin contact (namely fentanyl) or via
inhalation, making it challenging to help the victim.
Firefighters must be properly trained on how to safely respond to
these life-threatening emergencies in a way that both helps the victim
and minimizes risk to their health and safety.
The Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act would require the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to produce training
materials to prevent exposure to synthetic opioids for first responders
and others who are at high risk of exposure.
In addition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration will be required to disseminate the mentioned training
materials to ambulance transport personnel, local sheriff deputies, and
other first responders and individuals in high-risk occupations.
H.R. 2364 would also direct the CDC to conduct a public education
campaign that raises public awareness of the dangers of synthetic
opioids and explains the services available, with respect to opioid
treatment.
The health of American citizens is one of the most pressing issues
facing this country.
Continuing education on fentanyl and synthetic opioids is essential
for ensuring the health and safety of fire fighters and paramedics.
Passing the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act is a step towards
ensuring the health and wellness of American citizens and reducing the
impact synthetic opioids impose on American communities.
I urge my colleagues to pass this bill and I thank Congressman Andy
Kim for introducing such an important piece of 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. 2364, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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