Welch Urges House Action on Opioid Crisis; Shares Vermont Experience with Epidemic

Press Release

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) testified today before a key House subcommittee to urge House action on the opioid epidemic ravaging communities in Vermont and across the country. He shared Vermont's experience with the epidemic, including a story about a mother whose son became addicted to heroin. He also outlined a four-part legislative agenda for the subcommittee to consider, including fully funding the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, funding research into alternative treatments for pain, authorizing partial fill policies for opioid prescriptions, and better educating physicians on the safe prescribing of opioid drugs.

"This so affects us all, I mean it's heartbreaking. It doesn't matter if it is a red district or a blue district. It doesn't matter what your view is on the size and scope of government," Welch testified. "Our job in Congress is to come up with policies that will help people help themselves."

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