Congressman Brett Guthrie celebrates House passage of SUPPORT Act
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2483, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce says the legislation passed by a vote of 366 to 57.
According to officials, in 2018, President Donald Trump signed into law the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act in response to the opioid epidemic that has impacted communities across the nation.
H.R. 2483 was reported to the full House from the Committee on Energy and Commerce by a roll call vote of 36 yeas – 13 nays.
“After several years of bipartisan collaboration on the SUPPORT Act, the House of Representatives passed legislation to continue fighting the fentanyl crisis by improving access to treatment, expanding recovery opportunities, and bolstering prevention initiatives,” Guthrie stated. “The programs within the SUPPORT Act have made significant steps toward reducing the toll illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances take on our communities. By reauthorizing this important legislation, we are increasing prevention initiatives, reducing drug-related deaths, and restoring hope for families. I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan commitment to saving lives.”
The SUPPORT Act does the following, according to officials:
- Ensures first responders can access and administer naloxone;
- Allows for enhanced SUD treatment options for pregnant and postpartum women;
- Strengthens state PDMP systems;
- Encourages individuals in recovery to participate in the workforce; and
- Continues the supply of resources for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers, which provide a full spectrum of treatment and recovery support services.
