Combating the Opioid Epidemic

Our nation is facing an opioid epidemic and no community is safe. According to the CDC, 78 Americans die everyday from an opioid overdose. Since 1999, the amount of prescription opioids sold in the United States has nearly quadrupled and more than 28,000 Americans died because of opioids in 2014.

As a pharmacist for more than thirty years, I've seen the tragedy of opioid abuse firsthand. While I have been blessed to watch prescription medications save lives, I also watched as addiction to them ruined careers, families, and lives.

This week, the House passed 18 bills to address this epidemic plaguing our nation. The legislation addresses almost every facet of the epidemic including creating a pain management task force to develop best practices for prescribing pain medication and pain management, authorizing new grants for local and state agencies to address opioid addiction, increasing care for newborn infants who are affected by illegal substance abuse, providing comprehensive opioid abuse treatment to pregnant and postpartum women, and creating safety measures for use of opioids when treating veterans with chronic pain.

While there is no easy solution, I am very proud that the House passed this legislation. Together, we can and will overcome this health crisis.

I spoke on the floor of the United States House of Representatives this week about the need to address this issue. Click here to see my speech.

From our Nation's Capitol LXV

Monday, May 9, 2016: The City of Brunswick is rich in history but perhaps its greatest times still lie ahead. On Saturday, I was honored to participate in the dedication of the USNS Brunswick, a high-speed Navy vessel that represents a link to the shipbuilding past of Brunswick that really cemented the legacy of this area and their connection to the sea and to our nation’s great Navy. The USNS Brunswick, whose mission as a high-speed vessel cargo transport, echoes the role the Liberty ships played in World War II. Between 1943 and 1945, the shipyard in Brunswick built 99 Liberty ships and although they are long gone, the longstanding relationship between Brunswick and our Armed Forces remains. On a beautiful spring day, with the backdrop of the beautiful marsh, the dedication of this beautiful vessel reminded me of how much we have to be proud of here in the First Congressional District.

Congressman Carter at the USNS Brunswick Ceremony

Today I’m in Atlanta for an event with my good friend Rep. Doug Collins who I served with in the Georgia State Legislature and who now represents the Ninth Congressional District of Georgia.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016: After an early morning meeting in Atlanta with my good friend Jet Toney who represents the American Society of Anesthesiologists, I head back to Washington where my first meeting is with Jacques Klempf, President/CEO of Dixie Egg Company in Blackshear. I had the pleasure to tour this impressive plant last week while I was in the district and, today we have the opportunity to meet and discuss in detail the federal policies that are preventing Dixie Egg Company from expanding their business. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on H.R. 4063, the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act. This is the first of many bills that I will be speaking on this week as the House is taking up 18 bills dealing with the opioid epidemic in our country. Being the only pharmacist in Congress, I have a unique perspective of this problem and feel compelled to share my knowledge when possible. Next, I head back to my office for a meeting with Friends of Fort Stewart, an outstanding group of advocates from Chatham, Bryan and Liberty Counties, including Savannah Mayor Eddie Deloach and Hinesville Mayor Alan Brown, who I will be joining for a meeting with military leaders at the Pentagon tomorrow. Next, I meet with US Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman to discuss the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) before we have our weekly staff briefing. Afterwards, I head to the Rules Committee where I testify on an amendment to H.R. 4641 that I am sponsoring before heading to the House Chamber for our first and only votes of the day. Later in the evening I head back to the House Chamber where I speak during special orders on the opioid epidemic.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016: My first meeting this morning is with the Doctors Caucus where we heard from a representative from the Obama Administration who works on the Affordable Care Act before heading back to my office to meet with Vulcan Materials Company and the Georgia Construction Aggregate Association. Our weekly GOP conference is next and, as one would expect, much of the discussion is in regards to the meeting tomorrow between Speaker Paul Ryan and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. After a meeting of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to discuss reforming the Postal Service, I head to the Pentagon for a meeting with military leaders and Friends of Fort Stewart. While we recognize how fortunate we are to have Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield in our district and what an important role they play in our nation’s military, we are also very fortunate to have such dedicated advocates as the Friends of Fort Stewart. These civil and business leaders represent our community well and we thank them for their service. Once back in my office I meet with Gulfstream President Mark Burns and representatives from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association about the upcoming reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

Congressman Carter with the Georgia Board of Realtors

After a meeting with the Georgia Bankers Association, including my friend Bryan County Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day. I stay in the chamber after votes and speak during debate in favor of H.R. 4641 and also offer an amendment to this bill. After debate we have our second vote series of the day where we vote to pass H.R. 4641 with my amendment. This is followed by debate on ten more bills dealing with the opioid epidemic and I stay on the floor for the next two and a half hours and speak on each bill. During this time, I meet with my good friends from the Georgia Board of Realtors who are kind enough to come to the Rayburn Room just off the House Chamber to meet with me.

Thursday, May 12, 2016: My day starts early as I head to “radio row” at 7:10 AM where I am interviewed by different radio stations from around the country on the opioid epidemic and what we are doing in Congress this week to combat the problem. Next, I head to a discussion with Senators and health care officials about the problem of escalating drug prices, followed by a meeting of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the management practices at TSA. A link to my questions can be found here. After a visit to the Health Care Innovation Expo and a visit with students from Butler Christian Academy in Savannah, I have a phone interview with the Savannah Morning News after which I head to the House Chamber and deliver a one minute speech in honor of longtime Savannah Architect Hank Levy.

Congressman Carter with students from Butler Christian Academy

I stay in the House Chamber afterwards to speak on more opioid bills before heading to a health care task force meeting to discuss our proposal to replace Obamacare. Next, I head back to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.

Friday, May 13, 2016: Today we have our fourth hearing of the week in the OGR committee and it is on incorporating social media into federal background investigations. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which will be combined with the 18 opioid bills that we passed this week and we will conference with the Senate to send to the President one bill for his signature. A link to my speech can be found here. Next, I attend a member meeting to update us on the Zika virus, after which I return to the House Chamber where we overwhelmingly pass S. 524 with bipartisan support, capping a week where we addressed the opioid epidemic, the leading cause of accidental death in our country. While I am always honored to be a member of the United States House of Representatives, I am particularly proud of the work we did this week, perhaps some of the finest work we have done in my time here.