Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gussie Gammon of St. Simons Island, Georgia for her 90th birthday on June 25th. At 90 years old Ms. Gammon continues to be an impressive member and contributor to the coastal Georgia community. She contributes greatly to the Coastal Georgia Republican Club in Brunswick and the Georgia Federation of Republican Women. She has even held positions of leadership including secretary of the Coastal Georgia Republican Club. I know from the time that I have spent with her that she deeply cares about bettering her community as well as the nation. Before moving to coastal Georgia in 2009, Gussie and her husband Don were active members of the community in Waynesville, North Carolina. The First Congressional District of Georgia is lucky to have someone like Gussie who illustrates, each day, her dedication in creating a better community and I thank her for her service. Ms. Gammon, I hope you have a happy 90th birthday

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Virginia Carson and her retirement as President of South Georgia State College on June 30. A graduate of the University of Georgia with Master's and Doctorate degrees from Georgia State University, Dr. Carson is no stranger to success. During her 8 year tenure as President of South Georgia State College, she showed an unbelievable commitment to fostering her students' ambition and educational growth. This dedication to her students has been instrumental to the success of the college and has ensured her students' success for years to come. Dr. Carson prided herself on keeping a tightknit community with small class sizes and encouraging students to engage in extracurricular activities, which also enhanced campus life. Although the true importance of Dr. Carson's service cannot be measured, I am honored to congratulate her for her hard work and dedication to higher education.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Second Lieutenant Harold Earls, Captain Elyse Ping Medvigy, and Staff Sergeant Chad Jukes, who successfully climbed to the 29,000-foot summit of Mount Everest on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Staff Sergeant Jukes is a veteran who lost his leg while fighting in Iraq in 2006, making the feat even more amazing; and Lieutenant Earls is a Third ID soldier who is currently stationed at Fort Benning in west Georgia. The soldiers' goal in reaching Mount Everest is overshadowed by their ultimate goal of gaining support for veterans' and soldiers' mental health. With the trip to the summit, they raised $109,000 to support the mental health groups Give an Hour and Stop Soldier Suicide. The climb was the debut of U.S. Expeditions and Explorations, which is a nonprofit organization founded by Lieutenant Earls. The entire trip, including a long preparation period, lasted over a year. I congratulate these men for reaching the summit of Mount Everest, and I thank them for their service to our Nation and to servicemen's and -women's mental health.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of former Congressman William S. Stuckey, Jr.'s 81st birthday today. Born in 1935 in Eastman, Georgia, he attended the Georgia Military Academy and then graduated from the University of Georgia in 1956. For Georgians, he is most known for his time spent in Congress from 1967 to 1977, serving the Eighth District of Georgia and later the Ninth District. He went to great lengths to pass legislation that aided coastal Georgia's environmental heritage, including a bill that made Cumberland Island a national seashore by the United States National Park Service. Thanks to Mr. Stuckey, the island is an impressive, well-preserved, and secluded maritime force that amazes visitors each year. Another environmental bill passed by Mr. Stuckey made the Okefenokee Swamp a federally protected wilderness and created trails that visitors walk along today. I want to thank Mr. Stuckey for his service to Georgia. I wish him a very happy birthday.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2576, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This legislation would combine the policy priorities from H.R. 2576 and S. 697 into a bipartisan bill that would modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Recognizing the need to ensure that chemicals are safely made and used, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act 40 years ago. This law made protecting human health and the environment a priority in the chemical manufacturing process. However, the Toxic Substances Control Act has not been updated since its inception, and is in dire need of reform. Policies based on this 40-year-old law are disjointed, confusing, and often contradictory for both manufacturers and consumers. Modernizing the Toxic Substances Control Act would allow for adoption of uniform, science-based chemical safety policies. Manufacturers will have the regulatory certainty they need to develop new and safe products, and consumers can shop with confidence. This version of the bill also protects intellectual property rights of chemical manufacturers, many of which have invested millions of dollars in research and development. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill that greatly improves a landmark consumer and environmental protection law.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Newhouse and the Rules Committee, as well as Chairman Simpson and the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, for their leadership and progress made on this year's Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. H.R. 5055, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, is a step forward in updating our Nation's waterborne infrastructure and energy needs. The First District of Georgia is home to a unique set of resources, with two large ports, various wetlands and islands, and the State's entire coastline. Whether it is the Savannah Harbor Expansion Program, the growth of the Port of Brunswick, or the unique characteristics involved with wetlands permitting, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill has a significant impact on the citizens of the First Congressional District of Georgia. The Port of Savannah is the second busiest East Coast port, and is rapidly expanding, growing at a substantial rate year after year. The Port of Brunswick is the third busiest roll-on/roll-off cargo port in the country. These ports are the economic engines of Georgia and for the Southeast, reaching as far as the Midwest in cargo imported and exported out of their facilities. H.R. 5055 is vital to ensuring that projects like the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project continue on time so our Nation's economy continues to grow. I would like to thank the gentleman, the Rules Committee, and the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee for their continued devotion to this cause. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the success of the Caterpillar Construction Equipment Company's plant in Athens, Georgia. On April 21, 2016, the Athens branch was named by Governor Nathan Deal as Georgia's 2016 Large Manufacturer of the Year. This award comes directly on the heels of the Athens branch being recognized as the Athens-Clarke County Manufacturer of the Year. Opened on October 31, 2013, the Caterpillar location touts an 850,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility with 1,700 employees. The branch specializes in small track-type tractors and mini hydraulic excavators, providing these products to customers throughout North and South America and Europe. This award illustrates the continued success of Georgia in attracting new businesses. Since 2011, Georgia has attracted 511,000 private sector jobs, with 40,000 in manufacturing. I am extremely proud of these statistics. I rise today to congratulate Caterpillar Athens on their success, and I wish them the best of luck in their continued success.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Greg Parker, founder and president of Parker's Market and gas stations in coastal Georgia and South Carolina. Mr. Parker found his way to an immensely successful business through hard work and dedication. Mr. Parker's father ran a gas station in Midway, Georgia, allowing Mr. Parker to learn the business through pumping gas and cleaning customers' windshields. After graduation from the University of Georgia, Mr. Parker began to work relentlessly in his father's gas station. He managed a convenience store, cooked food for customers, and also pumped gas and cleaned windshields. Now Parker's has 45 stores up and down the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, with a total of 600 employees. Furthermore, Parker's Market plans to build 17 new stores in the next 13 months. The Savannah Morning News even named him the 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr. Parker's service to the First Congressional District of Georgia does not end with his successful business, as he also generously donates each year to local schools and hospitals.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment package, which includes my amendment that ensures the safety of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Home to the Atlantic ballistic missile submarine fleet, Kings Bay's contributions to national security and to the nuclear deterrence capabilities of the U.S. fleet cannot be overstated. Just south of the installation is a low-use general aviation airport called St. Mary's Airport. The flight lines for their airport take civilian aircraft right over the base, raising a number of security concerns for the installation and for the weapons packages stored there. The dangers this poses to our nuclear stockpile is glaring, and this amendment is the first step in remedying that situation. This amendment would allow for the relocation of the St. Mary's Airport service due to national security concerns posed to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. This amendment has been a major priority for the Navy, and provides much-needed changes to security concerns that have been persistent for a number of years. With this amendment, we can protect our nuclear submarines while providing new economic opportunities. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this amendment. MR. MOULTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in this very important endeavor. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment package, which includes my amendment that clarifies that the pilot program for prescription drug acquisition costs regarding TRICARE pharmacy benefits will also include small business pharmacies. Currently, the pilot program helps extend discounts to TRICARE beneficiaries for prescription drugs filled at retail pharmacies. My amendment simply clarifies that small business pharmacies are retail pharmacies and will be included in this pilot program. In many cases around the country, people are unlimited when it comes to which pharmacy they can have their preparations filled at. With this amendment, we can ensure all pharmacies, both large and small retailers, will be included in this pilot program. I encourage all my colleagues to support this amendment package.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rebuilding Together Waycross and all the hard work of its volunteers. The Rebuilding Together organization rebuilds family homes for veterans, people with disability, and low-income families, with the goal of a safe and healthy home for each person in the community. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1973 in Midland, Texas, by a small group of people who noticed the need to refurbish homes in their community. In the beginning, the group worked on those homes once a year each April, but by 1988, Rebuilding Together gained national recognition. Rebuilding Together now has over 100,000 volunteers who complete 10,000 projects each year and has spread to rebuilding homes in Waycross, Georgia. Rebuilding Together Waycross is one of four Rebuilding Together networks in the State of Georgia. I want to thank everyone who is a part of Rebuilding Together, and especially Rebuilding Together Waycross, for the hard work and for the life-changing services that this group has provided to families across America.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Con. Res. 88 and its effects on U.S. foreign relations. Since 1979, the United States has enjoyed a friendly and productive relationship that has been supported by the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances. The Taiwan Relations Act was a monumental piece of legislation that is directly responsible for fostering the longstanding friendship between the United States and Taiwan. The Six Assurances also played a significant role, setting the principles by which the United States would mediate its relationship with Taiwan and China. As security concerns have increased in the South Pacific, our allies in the region have contributed significantly to the safety and economic growth of the region. As a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I am continually supportive of efforts to strengthen the friendship between our two countries. I would like to commend Congressman Chabot, Chairman Royce, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs for their leadership on this issue and their continued efforts in championing the close ties we have with Taiwan. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this measure so we can continue to ensure a bright future for both Taiwan and for the United States.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his long-time support of these types of issues, both as a member of the Georgia State legislature and as a Member of this august body. Representative Collins has consistently and very diligently worked on these issues. As the son of a law enforcement officer, he understands all too well the importance of making sure that our communities are safe, and I thank him for his support of this. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and of the House amendment to S. 524. This week, the House has worked hard to pass 18 bills that address almost every facet of the opioid abuse epidemic. We called for the creation of a task force to develop best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication. We have authorized grants for local and State agencies to better fight this epidemic through better resources. We have expanded care for newborn infants who are affected by illegal substance abuse. We have improved comprehensive opioid abuse treatment to pregnant and postpartum women. We have also created safety measures for the use of opioids when treating veterans who have chronic pain. I am proud of the measures this body has passed that make up the House amendment to S. 524. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is facing an opioid epidemic, and no community is safe. It affects all communities across the Nation whether they be urban, suburban, or rural. Serving more than 30 years as a community pharmacist, I have witnessed and participated in some of the greatest advances in the history of medicine. I have seen diseases that once required hospitalization become illnesses that are treated from home with medication. I have seen an antibiotic regimen that once required four tablets each day for 10 days replaced with six tablets over 5 days. I have seen a deadly disease, like hepatitis C, cured by medication in just 90 days. The advances that I have witnessed in medicine can truly be called nothing more than miraculous, and that is important. We need to recognize that this fight against the opioid epidemic is going to have to be a team effort. We are going to have to have everyone--all healthcare professionals--involved in this. Whether they be doctors, nurses, pharmacists, PAs, APRNs--whoever--they have to be involved. Families have to be involved. Our communities have to be involved. Our legislature has to be involved. This week, our Congress has taken the lead. I am very proud of that. I am very proud of the work that it has done. It is also going to take tools like the Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. While a member of the Georgia State legislature, I had the honor of sponsoring the legislation that led to the creation of the Georgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. That program has been a great tool in our toolbox to fight the opioid epidemic. Since that time, we have tweaked that program and have made it even better, and it continues to get better. It continues to help us in our fight against the opioids. I mentioned the advances that I have witnessed in medicine. I am a big fan of the pharmaceutical industry--a big fan, perhaps its biggest fan. What I have witnessed, again, has been miraculous. I call on the pharmaceutical companies because right now there exists a gap, a gap in treating pain. Right now we have available to us medication such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and then we go to the opioids. There are very few alternatives in between there in that gap--in that void, if you will. Very few. Once you get past tramadol and a couple of others, there is nothing else for us to use, there is nothing else for us to prescribe. I have confidence in the pharmaceutical manufacturers, and I call on them to fill in that gap, to fill in that void. We need more alternatives, more choices. Whether it is true or untrue, I can tell you that many patients don't believe that ibuprofen or acetaminophen, which you can buy without a prescription, will work as well as something that you can buy with a prescription. That is something we have to overcome, but there is definitely a void there that needs to be filled. Again, I am very, very confident that the drug manufacturers and that the pharmaceutical companies can help us fill this void, and I call on them to do just that. Mr. Speaker, as a lifelong pharmacist, I have seen the struggles firsthand that Americans face with opioid addiction. I have witnessed my colleagues in the pharmacy profession, some who just could not overcome that weakness and who succumbed to prescription drug abuse. I have witnessed that. I have witnessed it with patients. I have witnessed it with customers who have ruined their careers, who have ruined their families, and who have ruined their lives because of opioid abuse. This is an epidemic. Certainly it is something that has to be addressed in our country. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this measure so we can improve our efforts to raise awareness while working towards solutions to solve this health crisis. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I applaud my colleagues. This has been a very, very proud week for me to be a Member of the United States Congress. To see what my colleagues in this House have done this week--as a pharmacist, as a healthcare professional--has made me very, very proud. We did good this week, and I am very proud to be a Member of this House.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his support of what I consider to be a very important amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment to H.R. 5046 because Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and their effectiveness are key to fighting prescription drug abuse in this country. As a lifelong pharmacist and as the author of the Georgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Program while I was a member of the Georgia General Assembly, I believe PDMPs are one of the most important tools in the fight against prescription drug abuse. To increase the success of these programs throughout the country, interoperability and data sharing between States is paramount. I commend Chairman Goodlatte and the Judiciary Committee for their work on this bill; but to continue the growth and the success of PDMPs, interoperability should be included in any discussion to improve these systems so States can better share information about patients and the patterns that occur with interstate prescription drug trafficking. I thank the gentleman from California for his work on this important issue, and I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 5046, the Comprehensive Opioid Reduction Act of 2016, because we need to ensure that every State has the tools they need to fight the opioid abuse epidemic. H.R. 5046 establishes a comprehensive opioid abuse grant program to provide training to first responders, criminal investigation for the distribution of opioids, resident treatment centers, and drug courts. Approximately 47,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2014, and approximately 21.5 million people ages 12 and older suffer from substance abuse. As a lifelong pharmacist, I have seen firsthand the struggles that these people face. H.R. 5046 seeks to fight the opioid epidemic through a grant program that would provide States with the resources to provide programs to help Americans fight this disease. It would help improve prescription drug monitoring programs, help address juvenile opioid abuse, give first responders the training to reverse opioid overdoses, and improve access for veterans in treatment court. The only way we are going to be able to fight this battle is if we work together as a team to educate and help victims of the opioid abuse. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Mr. Henry ``Hank'' Levy and all of his accomplishments in improving the Savannah community. Born in 1927, in Savannah, to Morton and Sadie Kaufman, Mr. Levy began drawing on boards in his father's architectural firm at the age of 14. This early interest in architecture, along with the guidance of his father, led Mr. Levy to attend Georgia Tech, and then architectural school in France. After graduation, Mr. Levy made numerous, significant improvements to the Savannah community. He led the effort to build the Harry S. Truman Parkway, a project that is now a major thoroughfare for Savannahians. Furthermore, he was awarded the project to build the oceanography center for Savannah, now called the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. His other projects include designs for the Savannah Airport Terminal, Levy's department store, the Great Southern Federal Bank building, and more than two dozen churches. Mr. Levy not only built structures for the Savannah area, but he had a generous heart and would help anyone in need. Once, he paid for the cap and gown of a student who couldn't afford it when he graduated from Savannah State University. Mr. Levy died on Monday, May 2, 2016, at the age of 89. His heartfelt devotion and energetic spirit will truly be missed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for yielding and for his efforts, along with Dr. Bucshon and others across the aisle, Congressman Gene Green and all those who have been involved in this. This is a very important subject. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4981 because making sure modern treatments are available for opioid addiction should be one of our top priorities in the fight against opioid drug abuse. H.R. 4981 makes reforms to the Controlled Substances Act that would modernize the way doctors approach opioid addiction and how patients obtain treatment. These reforms, which make treatment tools more available to patients, are one more step we can take to improve treatment services for patients. With these reforms, more patients will receive higher quality care, increasing the success of overall treatment. As a lifelong healthcare professional, I have witnessed patients firsthand who have struggled with receiving care for their addiction. We must stop the cycle of failing to provide patients with proper care because the system is not adequately structured to provide it. The only way we are able to provide the appropriate care is if we continue to support the evolution of treatment and care for this ever- changing opioid abuse epidemic. That is why I am supporting H.R. 4981. By reforming the way treatment is provided, we can begin to truly help all patients with opioid addiction. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4599 because treatment of addiction to opioid painkillers and heroin is vital in fighting the U.S. drug abuse epidemic. H.R. 4982 requires the Government Accountability Office to report on inpatient and outpatient treatment capacities, detoxification programs, rehabilitation programs, and treatment programs for pregnant women and adolescents. Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers are usually one of the biggest obstacles communities face when trying to help people who are fighting addiction. Unfortunately, for most communities, local treatment facilities are few and far between and many of them are full. As a lifelong healthcare professional, I believe the only way we will be able to adequately fight this opioid abuse epidemic is if we work together. We need to adequately understand the treatment services that are available to people with addiction across the country so we can use these tools to their fullest extent. That is why I am supporting H.R. 4982. By understanding all the tools the community can use, we can begin to fight this epidemic. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill so we can begin to leverage our resources to help our communities fight opioid abuse.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4586 because it is critical that we educate healthcare professionals about opioid overdose reversal medications. This bill allows the CDC to authorize grants to States based on their ability to educate healthcare professionals in dispensing opioid reversal medication. Specifically, this opioid reversal medication, called naloxone, can be used in emergency situations to stop an opioid overdose death. Also, through this bill, pharmacists will be able to dispense naloxone to patients without a prescription, increasing access to this lifesaving antidote. This access will help save lives in emergency situations when patients do not have the time or ability to seek or receive professional medical care. The World Health Organization states that this increased access will save up to 200,000 lives. As a lifelong pharmacist, I believe it is our duty to always educate Americans about the lifesaving tools available to them. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4586 so more people can be educated and have access to lifesaving medication related to opioid overdose.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his work on this bill. I rise today in support of H.R. 4969 because opioid addiction does not discriminate based on age. H.R. 4969 requires the CDC to report on information regarding prescription opioid abuse after youth sports injuries. According to a study by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 12 percent of male athletes and 8 percent of female athletes have used prescription opioids in the last 12 months. According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 80 percent of these teenagers and adolescents made the switch to heroin after abusing opioid painkillers, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This is completely unacceptable and 100 percent preventable. Every effort should be made to ensure that our youth are protected from the trap of drug abuse. That is why I am supporting H.R. 4969. We need all the information available so we can take the right steps to ensure our youth are protected. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3691 so that pregnant and postpartum women can receive comprehensive, residential substance abuse treatment when fighting opioid drug addiction. According to the National Perinatal Association, 4 percent of all live births in the U.S. occur in women who abuse illicit or prescription drugs, such as opioid pain relievers. This would equate to 159,436 births in 2014 from women who abuse illicit or prescription drugs. This is simply unacceptable. We must take action to ensure that pregnant and postpartum women receive the care they need to protect American families. H.R. 3691 simply states that support should be extended for residential substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women through 2020 and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment should carry out a pilot program to make grants to State substance abuse agencies to support services for pregnant and postpartum women who have a substance abuse disorder. By extending these services and working through this pilot program, we can ensure that pregnant and postpartum women can receive the care that they need so that they can care for their families. That is why I am supporting H.R. 3691. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill so we can extend care to all mothers and soon-to-be mothers who fight drug addiction.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for yielding and for his work on this most important subject, as well as the gentleman from West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4978, the NAS Healthy Babies Act because newborn infants deserve every opportunity to live a happy and healthy life. H.R. 4978 requires the Government Accountability Office to compile a report on the amount of babies born each year with NAS, Medicaid insurance coverage for families that have an NAS baby, and Federal obstacles for children who seek treatments for NAS. With this new information, we can increase our understanding of NAS and our ability to provide care for babies born with NAS. This new understanding is vital, considering the number of newborns with NAS has increased with the rise in the number of Americans addicted to opioids. As a lifelong pharmacist, I believe we should take every step possible to fight the addiction crisis in America, and the protection of our children should be our top priority. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3680, the Co-Prescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act, which gives patients the tools they need to protect themselves from opioid overdoses. H.R. 3680 calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to create a grant program that will increase the ability for healthcare providers to coprescribe opioid reversal medication like naloxone when those providers prescribe opioid-based medications for patients. This new direction by HHS will work to decrease the risk of fatally overdosing on opioids while also allowing healthcare providers to learn more about the opioid reversal medication benefits. In addition, with the grant money, providers will be able to track patient outcomes to make sure that the reversal medication has the desired effect. As a lifelong pharmacist, I consider it my duty to always care for my patients and give them every tool I can to protect and serve them the best way I can, and I have carried this duty to the United States House of Representatives. The Co-Prescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act does just this and is a major step in the right direction to ending the opioid addiction deaths in America. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4843, the Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act, because when newborn infants are tragically affected by illegal substance abuse, they deserve the best possible care and treatment. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which was enacted in 1974, set the groundwork for Federal coordination in addressing the issues of neglect and child abuse that is present in our country. H.R. 4843 builds on that by updating and improving existing laws to ensure that States are utilizing Federal dollars in a safe and effective way in providing care for children who suffer from illegal substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Under this bill, infants who are born with having had exposure to illegal substances will have strengthened protections through improved safe care plans and best practices. As a lifelong pharmacist and healthcare professional, I have seen firsthand families as they struggle to provide the care that is needed by infants who suffer from these conditions. I commend Congressman Barletta and the Committee on Education and the Workforce for their leadership on this important legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill so we can care for precious newborn infants across the country.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 4641 so we can continue to involve the practices of pain management and the prescribing of pain medication to fight the opioid abuse epidemic in this country. As a lifelong pharmacist, I have provided prescription medications to Americans for over 30 years. In that time, I have personally witnessed the struggles that both medical professionals and patients face with prescription drug abuse. There are many steps that must be taken to address this epidemic. One priority should be to involve practices related to pain management and the prescribing of pain medication. This bill does just that. This bill creates an interagency task force to continually review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication. Through the new task force, experts in fields related to prescription drug abuse and pain management will be able to involve best industry practices that will give clarity to our fight against this epidemic. I commend Representative Brooks and the Committee on Energy and Commerce for their work on this bill, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this measure.