Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) released the following statement ahead of the 2-year anniversary of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act being signed into law.

“We are working to overcome the pandemic of a century, but now is not time to let our foot off the gas in the fight against another public health crisis that continues to claim American lives: the opioid epidemic. Two years ago, the ability for communities across the country to overcome the opioid crisis was strengthened when the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law. Communities are now armed with additional resources and authorities to combat the opioid crisis, and patients have more help with their recoveries. Although the SUPPORT Act is known as the most comprehensive effort by Congress to tackle a single drug epidemic, this was never meant to be the last step in our fight. There is still work to do, which is why we continue to advance bipartisan legislation to provide additional resources and ensure nothing like this can happen again. As we see the COVID-19 pandemic’s toll on Americans’ mental health and well-being, we will continue to support patients and their loved ones. As we commemorate the 2-year anniversary of the SUPPORT Act, we are hopeful and confident that every community in this country will come back stronger than ever,” said Walden and Burgess.

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, sponsored by Walden, was signed into law by President Trump on October 24, 2018.