Nation's Opioid Epidemic

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for joining us this evening for this critically important discussion.

I thank the chairs of the bipartisan task force on the opioid epidemic for their leadership and tenacity in pushing reforms. I thank Congresswoman Kuster and Congressman Guinta.

This week the House will debate solutions to our Nation's opioid crisis. If there has ever been a time to put away partisan differences and ideological rhetoric, it is now. I am proud of the work of the task force in supporting bipartisan bills to help stem the tide of this epidemic.

This is a public health crisis that reaches into every community. It is an equal opportunity killer, without regard for age, gender, race, or economic background. It does not care if you are a Democrat or a Republican.

In Massachusetts, just last year we lost nearly 1,400 lives to this opioid crisis. Half of all of the deaths in Massachusetts of opioid overdoses involve heroin, but prescription opioid overdoses are also surging. Between 2013 and 2014, they increased by over 90 percent. In my State more than others, the epidemic is claiming the lives of our young people ages 25 to 34.

Too many parents are trying to save their child from opioid addiction's deadly grip, and they are counting on us for help. That is why we are here this evening--to do everything we can to save lives.

At the center of this debate are the families at home who speak out and bravely share their stories so no other parent has to endure the pain of losing their child.

Tonight I am thinking of Debbie Deagle, who I met in October during a town hall in Revere, Massachusetts. In front of a large audience she told the story of Stephen, her only child, who she lost to opioid addiction. In her words, she was inconsolable and it was difficult to make it through each day. She was also angry because not a month had gone by in the last 15 years she hadn't heard of somebody overdosing, but nobody wanted to talk about it and everybody was too ashamed.

Debbie talked about the shame her son felt. She described him as brilliant, her miracle child. She raised him as a single mother and, while it was hard, his beautiful life was a gift she cherished.

He was smart, witty, a songwriter, and a musician. He had a bright future. He had graduated with honors from St. John's Prep and went to Northeastern University, where he became a computer science major, which was his gift.

It was four impacted wisdom teeth his freshman year of college and the opioids that he took for pain that started him on his road to addiction. When his substance abuse disorder derailed Stephen's life, Debbie started reading blogs where people commented: They are only junkies. They should just cull the herd. That is what got her angry. She thought: These aren't animals. These are children.

On their own, Debbie and her son battled addiction, insurance companies, and the courts. In the end, it was a battle they lost. On January 8, 2015, Stephen Deagle passed away after his excruciating struggle with opioids, and his mother lived her worst nightmare saying goodbye to her only son.

When we asked Debbie if we could share her story, her request was simple: Please get Congress to do something. We deserve real solutions now.

So my request to this Congress is to listen to Debbie and the pleas of too many other moms like her. This crisis is an urgent calling for Congress to act and save lives.

This week we will have the opportunity to pass legislation that will give critical tools to address this crisis. Ultimately, however, we must also provide the financial resources to our State and local partners to change the course of this epidemic.

I thank you for all the work that is being done.

I yield to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta).

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Guinta.

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Please extend our thanks to Jennifer's family for sharing that story, and I thank the gentleman for his advocacy.

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. I thank the gentleman for sharing Morgan's story with us.

(Mr. NEAL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. I thank Mr. Neal for the critical story that Bethany shared with him and that the gentleman shared with us. We know how devastating this crisis has been in western and central Massachusetts, and we thank the gentleman for all of his leadership on it.

Stefanik).

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Stefanik for telling us of the work of St. Joseph's and highlighting the importance of the impact of this crisis on veterans.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Kaptur for putting a face to this addiction with the moving stories of Matt and Tracy.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for reminding us that even rural America has not been spared this epidemic.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Jackson Lee for her advocacy and leadership and always championing our communities of color who have also been devastated by this crisis.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Rothfus for sharing the stories of Jared, Chad, and Tony and really putting a face and a name to this epidemic.

I now yield to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maine. I thank her for sharing the personal story of David and Michael. I know that, in my extended office family, we grieve and remember and will continue to work for change for Kyle and Emmett, who we have lost in the past year as well. We will remember all the names that were mentioned in this first hour of Stephen, Jennifer, Morgan, Bethany, Matt, Tracy, Jared, Chad, Tony, David, and Michael.

I thank my colleague from New Hampshire again for his work on this bipartisan task force.

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