The subcommittee will come to order. I will recognize myself for an Opening Statement. The United States of america is in the midst of a fierce battle against an epidemic brought to us by opioids. It does not matter where you live. This crisis has touched every corner of american society. While new england and the ohio valley regions represent states hardest hit by. The epidemic, Health Officials from the south and reaching across the Mountain West report deaths of those counties. The latest figures from the centers for Disease Control and prevention is astounding. 91 americans die every day from an overdose. Now more than ever we must come together and strengthen our commitment to fight this. I expect todays members will bring to the forefront key insights and potential solutions on this critical issue. In the previous congress, the energy and Commerce Committee led several initiatives to help address the the Opioid Epidemic. The comprehensive recovery act and the 21st century cures a
A senator mr. President . The presiding officer the republican leader. Mr. Mcconnell are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are. Mr. Mcconnell i ask further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell im not sure if you have a fax machine at home, not Many Americans do anymore. Neither do a lot of Small Businesses. So it seems a bit a odd to tell Small Businesses they need to fax in enrollment foamplet for be obamacare for obamacare. That is what the Obama Administration is now doing. I might paraphrase the president , the 1980s called and they want their Health Policy back. Now, to be fair, snail mail is also an option and it looks like the president s people will try to have the issue fixed soon despite passing the law more than three years ago. But then again this is the same president who told us that obamacare is working the way its supposed to, president obama said, and that those who already have Health