Dr. Joyce is Fighting to Defeat the Drug Crisis & Support Pennsylvanians in Recovery

Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) this week highlighted Americans' shared fight to prevent drug abuse and addiction, equip those on the frontline of this effort, and support individuals and families facing addiction as well as those in recovery. Watch his full remarks on the House Floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a public health crisis that is taking a tangible toll on every facet of our society. In Pennsylvania, drug abuse and addiction are not abstract concerns the drug crisis is a reality that plays out across our community every single day. Sadly, Pennsylvanians aren't alone. Each day, more than 130 Americans die from an overdose.

As a nation, we cannot allow illicit drugs to continue tearing apart families, destroying our workforce, and claiming lives. From law enforcement officials to health care providers to educators to community leaders and lawmakers, all of us have an individual part to play. We must combat this crisis, keep drugs off our streets, protect families, safeguard our economy, and most importantly save lives.

Ending this scourge requires a team effort. In Congress, it has been my privilege to work with leaders at the federal, state, and local levels to identify and implement commonsense solutions for the drug crisis.

Today I thank my fellow members of the Freshmen Bipartisan Working Group on Addiction for their collaboration and partnership during the 116th Congress. Together, we worked toward our shared fight against drug abuse and addiction. I'm proud of the legislative achievements that we forged, and I am looking forward to continuing this work in the upcoming 117th Congress.

In the White House, President Donald Trump and his Administration are incredible leaders in this fight. From day one, President Trump prioritized realistic and achievable solutions to tackle this problem, equip those on the front lines, and support Americans in recovery. I am grateful to President Trump's drug czar, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll, for his steadfast commitment to this issue.

This fall, it was an honor to host Director Carroll in my district to meet directly with remarkable leaders on the frontlines of the drug crisis. He is a true partner for Pennsylvanians, and I am thankful for his service to our nation in this key role.

As a nation, Americans have made significant strides in defeating the drug crisis and now our work must continue.

On the China Task Force, we recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is not the only public health crisis that was created by the Chinese Communist Party. All too often, illicit drugs originating in China end up on Pennsylvania streets - spurring addiction, harming families, and killing too many of my patients, friends and neighbors. These drugs are trafficked through porous borders and even through the U.S. Postal Service.

As a direct solution to this problem, I co-sponsored legislation to hold the Chinese communist regime and any other foreign government accountable if it fails to stop deadly drugs from leaving its borders. And, I will continue to push forward with commonsense legislation.

Tragically, the drug crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and aggressive mitigation tactics in Pennsylvania and around the country. As Americans battle a pandemic, we must not ignore rising rates of addiction and overdoses. I continue to call on federal and state leaders to ensure that individuals and families facing addiction and those in recovery have the resources and support that they need whether virtual or in-person.

We cannot afford inaction. The ramifications of the drug crisis transcend all divides. Together, not as Republicans or Democrats - but as Americans, we are in a shared fight to save lives. And together, we must win.

Thank you, and I yield.

Background:

Earlier this fall, Dr. Joyce hosted President Trump's Drug Czar, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll, in Westmoreland and Somerset Counties to meet with a number of hardworking Pennsylvanians on the frontlines of this fight and discuss opportunities to work together. Read more about Director Carroll's visit to PA-13.

He also has urged Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to make recovery assistance and resources available both in-person and online during the COVID-19 crisis. Read his letter to Gov. Wolf.

As a member of the China Task Force, Dr. Joyce sponsored legislation to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for trafficking illicit fentanyl and other drugs that originate in China and end up on our streets. Read more here.

In Congress, Dr. Joyce continues to lead on legislative solutions for the drug crisis, including:

• H.R. 1098, the Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act, to combat the flow of illicit fentanyl into our community.
• H.R. 4761, the DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, to empower the Department of Homeland Security to stop the trafficking of illicit drugs at the border.
• H.R. 2062, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act, to support Americans in recovery.
• H.R. 3591, the Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act, to prevent drug abuse and addiction on campuses.

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