OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 19, 2021
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 654, the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act, which was introduced by Representatives Joyce and Kilmer.

The Drug-Free Communities Support Program funds community-based coalitions that work to prevent youth substance use disorders. Their work at the local level is important, especially as we sadly saw a record in overdose deaths last year.

We all know that the economic consequences of the pandemic have impacted many sectors, and that includes the sustainability of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. Under current law, coalitions that receive Federal grants must match part of the funding with non- Federal funds. But the economic consequences of the pandemic have left many coalitions struggling to meet the matching requirement.

H.R. 654 temporarily permits the Office of National Drug Control Policy to waive the local matching requirement if a coalition is unable to fulfill this requirement due to the pandemic. Providing targeted relief for these coalitions will help them continue to implement local strategies to address the increases in substance use disorders and overdose deaths in our communities.

I thank Representatives Joyce and Kilmer for leading the support initiative, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce), who is the primary sponsor of this piece of legislation.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, my friend from Ohio said it best. Local solutions to community problems. It is a national problem. It is a statewide problem. But it is happening in each community, and so local solutions are part of the strategy moving forward. And giving these coalitions the opportunity to participate in these grants as they have seen some other funding and other resources dry up due to the pandemic, it is something that is important for us to continue and move this forward. I appreciate my friend from Ohio and my other good friend from Washington State for moving this forward.

Madam Speaker, I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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