Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Committee on Energy and Commerce today advanced a bill including language from Rep. French Hill (AR-02) and Rep. Debbie Dingell’s (MI-12), H.R. 7681, the Preventing Overdoses and Saving Lives Act 2.0. Language from H.R. 7681 was included as part of a broader package passed by the committee, the Restoring Hope and Mental Health and Well-Being Act.  

“A shocking 107,000 Americans died last year from a drug overdose and two-thirds of those tragic deaths were because of illicit fentanyl. This is a crisis affecting families in central Arkansas and across the nation. Congress needs to act now. I don’t want to see this year’s statistics outpace last year’s,” said Rep. Hill. “Our bipartisan bill reauthorizes two grant programs to combat the opioid crisis and encourages co-prescribing and access to life-saving opioid reversal drugs like naloxone. I have seen first-hand how successful co-prescribing has been in Arkansas and I wanted to take that to the national level. I thank my friend Rep. Dingell, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06), and Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), for their support including these live-saving provisions from our Protecting Overdoses and Saving Lives Act 2.0.”

“The opioid epidemic has escalated during the pandemic, ravaging families in Michigan and across the country,” said Rep. Dingell. “We need a comprehensive approach if we are going to bring this crisis to an end, and our bipartisan legislation takes an important step in the right direction by creating a grant program for states and localities to implement co-prescribing and other solutions that would prevent overdoses. I’m grateful to my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing this legislation, and to Congressman French Hill for his partnership on this life-saving measure.”

“There is a mental health crisis in America, and we all need to be asking the tough questions. Why are more people in despair and suffering from severe mental illness? Why are drug overdose deaths at record highs? And, how did school shutdowns and COVID-19 restrictions based on fear make our children feel more broken and alone?” Ranking Member, Cathy McMorris Rodgers said. “We’ve have been asking these questions and are leading on strong, bipartisan solutions in the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act for communities to provide and support lifesaving care to people in need. I thank all my colleagues for their thoughtful and diligent work. It won’t end here. We must build on this and do everything we can to turn despair into hope for people and their families again.”