May 13, 2016
Green Line Extension
On Monday the Fiscal Management and Control Board voted to move forward on the Green Line Extension (GLX). While I understand questions remain, I am encouraged by the renewed commitment that the state made to the GLX this week. I will continue doing everything I can to support the GLX, including keeping the lines of communication open between local, state and federal officials.
Pain Management and Opioids
On Wednesday the House considered H.R. 4641, to provide for the establishment of an inter-agency task force to review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, and for other purposes. H.R. 4641 will establish an Interagency Task Force to update existing pain management practices. Members of the Task Force will include relevant federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services as well as a host of other stakeholders. Medical professionals, patients, members of the addiction recovery community, pharmacists and others will all share their perspectives and develop updated guidelines that the health care community can use when preparing pain management plans with patients. Too many of us know someone struggling with opioid addiction or are grieving the loss of a loved one over this epidemic. H.R. 4641 will help the medical community develop pain management plans for patients that recognize the inherent dangers of opioid abuse. I voted YES. H.R. 4641 passed and the entire vote is recorded below:
|
YEA |
NAY |
PRESENT |
NOT VOTING |
REPUBLICAN |
231 |
4 |
0 |
10 |
DEMOCRAT |
181 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
TOTAL |
412 |
4 |
0 |
17 |
MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATION |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Reducing Opioid Abuse
Yesterday the House considered H.R. 5046, the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act of 2016. This legislation creates the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Grant Program at the Department of Justice for states and local entities. Funds will be available for initiatives that will help reduce the epidemic of opioid abuse and save lives. Eligible programs include the purchasing of drugs that can reverse an opioid overdose and training for first responders so they can administer those drugs. Grant funding will also be available for prescription drug monitoring programs, initiatives that focus on our young people, and programs that substitute structured treatment plans for incarceration. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more of our citizens die from drug overdoses than car accidents. Heroin use has risen dramatically in recent years, with 80% of new users starting with prescription painkillers. I voted YES. H.R. 5046 passed and the entire vote is recorded below:
|
YEA |
NAY |
PRESENT |
NOT VOTING |
REPUBLICAN |
233 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
DEMOCRAT |
180 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
TOTAL |
413 |
5 |
0 |
15 |
MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATION |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Update on the Spoofing of my Office Phone
I wanted to let everyone know that the spoofing attack on my Washington, D.C. office phone has finally begun to subside. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is continuing its investigation of this matter and we hope that the culprits will be identified soon. I’m sorry if anyone had trouble getting in touch with us and we will keep you posted if there are any new developments.
What’s Up Next
The next House votes are scheduled to occur on Monday May 16th. At this writing a legislative schedule is not available.