HELP Committee to Hold Markup on the SUPPORT Act and ESRA

Statement

"We have an opioid and substance abuse crisis in America that we have got to address. It is absolutely unacceptable that more than 100,000 people in America died from an overdose last year with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids playing a role in nearly 70% of those tragic deaths. I am pleased that we have reached a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize and expand the SUPPORT Act to begin to address this epidemic in America. Let's be clear: This is a very modest piece of legislation. Much more needs to be done to address this crisis. Over the long-term, we have got to substantially increase the number of substance abuse counselors and mental health professionals in America, among many other things. As Chairman of the HELP Committee, I will do everything I can to make that happen. I am also delighted that we have come to an agreement on bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act. This legislation will ensure that high-quality and timely research gets into the hands of teachers and principals so that they can improve teaching and learning in our nation's schools."

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