Combating Drug Epidemic

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, earlier this summer, I was proud to vote in favor of a package of bills intended to crack down on the epidemic of heroin use and opioid abuse across our Nation. I was even happier to see that legislation pass the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support before being signed into law by the President.

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act will help make grant funding available to State and local governments, create a task force to review physician prescribing guidelines and make sure babies born opioid-dependent receive quality care.

While this is a step in the right direction, I continue to be impressed by the efforts of community members in my district to help turn the tide against this epidemic.

Townhall meetings have been held across Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District in places such as Bradford, McKean County; and Ridgway, Elk County. Another meeting is planned for this evening in Centre County. These meetings, along with hearings held across the State by the Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee, are great steps in the battle against drugs and saving lives. Providing Opportunities

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, later today on this House floor, we will be considering what I would very accurately describe as an opportunity bill.

We hear the media talk about how in the middle of this campaign election season that Congress really is not productive. I would argue to the contrary, and I point to this bill. It is a bill I am very proud of.

Mr. Speaker, we all know individuals in our communities, perhaps in our own families, who are in need of opportunity. We probably know young people who, as they go off this time of year to school, are not inspired. Maybe their heads are on their desk. They don't learn in the typical fashion that traditional education teaches of lecture and classrooms, but if you put them in an environment where they can use their hands and do applied academics--career and technical education training--they are inspired, they look forward to getting out of bed in the morning, and they excel.

We probably all know people--perhaps we are related to folks--who find themselves this morning stuck in unemployment. As we gathered around the breakfast table, they were gathered around the breakfast table just trying to figure out how to make ends meet since they have lost their job for whatever reasons, probably no fault of their own, and they need a strategy to be able to get back on their feet. They need a strategy to be able to provide for their families. A greater opportunity is what they are seeking.

We probably know folks as well--certainly people who we serve and people in our communities--who have been stuck in the web of poverty for generations, intergenerational poverty, with no exit ramp and with no exit strategy.

This opportunity bill today is one that I encourage all of my colleagues to support. The culture today has so much emphasis on the theory that people need a 4-year degree to be successful in this country. However, we have a huge gap of technical and vocational jobs that are good-paying jobs and family-sustaining jobs that aren't being filled. Job creators cannot find individuals who are qualified and trained to be able to fill those positions. I call that the skills gap. Today we can take a tremendous step in closing the skills gap.

I have introduced a bill that will be considered on the floor today, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which, incidentally, is scheduled later today for a vote. This legislation reauthorizes and modernizes--more importantly, modernizes-- the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to help more Americans enter the workforce with the skills necessary to compete and succeed in high-wage, high-demand careers.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. It starts career awareness earlier recognizing that kids have access to technology and will begin to provide career and technical education awareness in the lower middle schools. It brings business and industry to the table so when we invest and do offer career and technical education training, it leads to a job at the end of the day, whether it is a result of a certificate earned, a credential that is provided, or training that is completed, and it serves individuals of all ages.

So I just ask and encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act on this House floor later today.

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