(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the House passed a package of bills to help combat the rising public health crisis of opioid abuse in the United States. Throughout the week, the House will also be voting on additional bills to help fight the opioid epidemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly 64,000 opioid deaths were recorded in the United States in 2016 alone.
LaMalfa said: “Addiction to opioids kills an average of 115 Americans daily. These could be family members, friends, or neighbors that suffer from opioid addiction, and it’s an epidemic that’s only getting worse. That’s why Congress is doing our part to help slow this crisis which impacts communities all across the country. The legislation we’re passing this week will help prevent illegal drugs from entering the country, change how painkillers are distributed, and make treatment for addiction easier to access, among others. These are bipartisan efforts that both the Administration and this Congress have prioritized, and we’ll continue working on legislation that can help foster real progress.”
For a comprehensive list of opioid bills being voted on this week, courtesy of the office of the Majority Leader, click here.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
