House Approves Opioid Conference Committee Report

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, the House voted to pass our Conference Committee's work on S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.

I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to be on this Committee and serve as a voice for so many grieving parents, loved ones, and close friends who have tragically lost someone from prescription or substance abuse. The product of our work gives a voice to those that unfortunately are not here to share their own stories.

Opioid abuse and addiction is a top concern. It is especially prominent in our Veteran population.

Our Veterans often return with both physical and mental wounds. The invisible wounds they sustain serving our country are just as serious as the physical ones, and we must find the best ways to care for each and every hero.

Recent statistics show that 20-22 Veterans commit suicide each day. This is deeply troubling. We must do all we can to prevent Veteran suicide and ensure they receive the quality care they have earned and deserve.

I am grateful to my colleagues for accepting some of my priorities that I have been diligently advocating for this Congress. Specifically, my initiatives, the Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery or COVER Act (H.R. 271) and the Jason Simcakoski Promoting Responsible Opioid Management and Incorporating Scientific Expertise or the PROMISE Act (H.R. 4063), were incorporated into this bill along with other measures I have authored in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The COVER Act is a bipartisan provision which provides a pathway forward that will eventually allow Veterans to have a range of options for mental health treatments such as outdoor sports therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, accelerated resolution therapy, and service dog therapy.

The PROMISE Act will increase safety for opioid therapy and pain management by requiring the VA and DOD to update their Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain. It also requires VA opioid prescribers to have enhanced pain management and safe opioid prescribing education and training and further requires the VA to increase information sharing with state licensing boards.

My bill encourages transparency and will further efforts to hold the VA accountable by requiring GAO to report on recommendations for improvement and assess the level of care Veterans are receiving.

Additionally, the PROMISE Act will authorize a program on integration of complementary and integrative health within the VA and encourage more outreach and awareness of the Patient Advocacy Program to educate Veterans on their care options.

Mr. Speaker, our Veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and we have a responsibility to ensure they are receiving the quality of care they have earned and deserve. We must hold the VA accountable and encourage optimal care for all Veterans who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.

Enactment of both these bills sends a clear message that enough is enough. Even one life lost is one too many. Those that have been bestowed the sacred duty of caring for our true heroes must have the training, resources and passion to do right.

This victory would not have been possible without the commitment and tireless work of so many. I sincerely thank everyone for their support and advocacy in our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in our country. Through the collaboration with families back home, stakeholders, and many others, we were able to come together to make necessary reforms and investments to really take a stand and save lives.

First and foremost, I want to extend my appreciation to the Simcakoski family. Like so many others who have been affected by similar tragedies, hearing firsthand from families such as the Simcakoskis highlighted the need that we can and must do more for those who have proudly served to defend our great nation.

I greatly appreciate the support from my colleagues in the House and Senate, especially Senator Tammy Baldwin for spearheading this effort in the Senate, Representatives Ron Kind and Kathleen Rice for taking the lead with me in the House, and those who cosponsored the PROMISE Act and COVER Act.

I want to thank the following groups for their efforts and letters of support as well including: the American Legion, AMVETS, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Disabled Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Blinded American Veterans Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VetsFirst, the Fleet Reserve Association, the United States Conference of Mayors, American Dance Therapy Association, American Music Therapy Association, American Art Therapy Association, Brain Treatment Center, Mental Health America, Boston Scientific, U.S. Pain Foundation, Performing Arts Alliance, the Certification Board for Music Therapists, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse, the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Veterans' Treatment Court, National Alliance for Mental Illness Pasco/ Pinellas, BayCare Behavioral Health, Veterans' Alternative Center, my Veterans' Advisory Committee, the Pinellas County Veteran Service Office, the Pasco County Veteran Service Office, the Hillsborough County Veteran Service Office, and the organizations that signed onto the letter led by the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose.

I also want to thank Dr. Kevin Kip, who oversees the Accelerated Resolution Therapy program at the University of South Florida, Dr. Edi Dopking, Director of Quantum Leap Farms, Inc., Judge Shawn Crane of the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Veterans' Treatment Court, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Chris Nocco of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, and Doug Leonardo, Executive Director for BayCare Behavioral Health, for their input and hard work to help our heroes.

To everyone else who was involved, advocated for the COVER and PROMISE Acts, and those who spread the word on the importance of these bills through social media, thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. Our Veterans deserve it all, and getting this done on their behalf symbolizes our commitment to uphold our promises as a grateful nation.

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