Prepared Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Conference Committee Meeting on S.524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act
July 6, 2016
It’s estimated that 129 Americans a day die from drug overdoses – 129 of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, parents, spouses, co-workers, friends and neighbors, lost to addiction every 24 hours. This is a human tragedy that’s touched communities of all shapes and sizes across the United States.
Despite the awful toll of this epidemic, I’ve been inspired by how many of our fellow citizens have turned their personal tragedies into stories of hope for others. I’ve heard these stories across Iowa, and the Senate Judiciary Committee heard them during the hearing I convened on this crisis in January.
Now, Congress has an opportunity to do our part, and pass this landmark bill, CARA. It’s a comprehensive approach, authorizing almost $900 million over five years for prevention, education, treatment, recovery and law enforcement. I was proud to lead the bill through the Committee and manage its near-unanimous approval by the full Senate.
I’m pleased that the bill now also includes the Kingpin Designation Improvement Act, which I introduced with Senator Amy Klobuchar.
After all of our hard work, CARA now represents the collective effort of both Democrats and Republicans from both the House and Senate. The time for us to act is now. Let’s not let another 129 Americans lose their lives without approving the conference report today, as over 100 advocacy organizations have urged us to do. Let’s move CARA one step closer to becoming law.
-30-