[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16744]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   WE MUST COMBAT THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC

  (Ms. KUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to discuss new bipartisan steps 
my House New Hampshire colleague, Frank Guinta, and I are taking to 
combat the heroin epidemic seizing New Hampshire and many other States 
across this country.
  Last year in New Hampshire alone we experienced 321 drug-related 
deaths, according to the State medical examiner's office, and the rate 
of drug-related fatalities in 2015 is expected to increase.
  I continue to see the impacts of this terrible epidemic as I meet 
with affected communities and stakeholders across my district. From 
educators to police officers, to advocates and health providers, it is 
only when we stand united and coordinate our efforts that we will be 
able to halt the destruction that this dangerous substance is causing 
all across our communities.
  That is why I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me 
and my fellow Representative from New Hampshire in our Bipartisan Task 
Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic. This task force will focus on 
finding solutions to the growing epidemic. We believe we must do 
everything possible to spread awareness, increase educational efforts, 
and hear from affected families and individuals.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join us to end this epidemic in 
our communities.

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