Lali's Law

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Dold for joining me in this legislation, and I also thank the family of Alex Laliberte for sharing their story. We offer our deepest sympathies.

Mr. Speaker, across Massachusetts and the Nation, too many parents are desperately trying to save their child from the deadly grip of the opioid crisis. In the past year alone, this public health crisis has claimed nearly 1,400 lives in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The bill before us today, Lali's Law, is a critical part of addressing this crisis.

Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, is a lifesaving drug. It stops the effect of heroin within minutes after it is administered, and it allows breathing to resume. But it is critical that it is widely available.

Under this bill, States that have authorized a standing order that allows anyone to obtain naloxone from a pharmacist would be eligible for a grant that can be used for public education campaigns and training for healthcare providers and pharmacists.

I want to share the story of a family from my district that illustrates the difference training and the availability of Narcan can make.

One night, a 911 call came in, a desperate and frantic new mother with a very young baby who was unresponsive. The first responders arrived at the scene, but despite their best efforts, this baby was not reviving. A responding firefighter relied on his training and quick thinking to save this child's life by administering Narcan. It worked.

Even though the mom had not revealed that she was addicted to prescription painkillers, the first responder knew the symptoms and made the right guess and saved this child's life. If he had not been trained to administer Narcan and not had the lifesaving drug with him that night, that baby would not be alive. But the man was, and now the baby and mom have a future.

This crisis presents an urgent calling for all of us, Democrats and Republicans alike, to put aside our differences and do what we can to save lives. That is what we are talking about here: increasing the availability of Narcan will save lives.

I am happy to join with my friend from Illinois to offer this important bill. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

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