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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko delivered passionate remarks at today’s Energy and Commerce Committee markup on an addiction policy related bill. Tonko demanded that more federal action be taken to meet the moment and address the nation’s overdose  crisis, and specifically called for the passage of bipartisan, widely supported legislation, the Reentry Act and the Due Process Continuity of Care Act.

Listen to Rep. Tonko’s remarks HERE and see below as prepared for delivery.

As we consider the SUPPORT Act reauthorization let me share that clearly there are some good policies we are moving forward. I am glad that we are reauthorizing several programs that have been successful.

I am pleased that we are including my Extending Access to Addiction Treatment Act that I was proud to work on with my friend Rep. Armstrong.

As you may know, Medication Assisted Treatment for addiction significantly reduces the risk of overdose death.

However, despite the effectiveness, approximately 87 percent of individuals with opioid use disorder who may benefit from lifesaving Medication Assisted Treatment do not receive it.

My Extending Access to Addiction Treatment Act makes permanent the requirement that Medicaid provide coverage for addiction medication for Americans who need it.

I also think we are taking a step in the right direction by requiring states to suspend rather than terminate coverage of Medicaid for justice involved individuals making it easier to restart these benefits upon release. We also include a provision to allow pregnant incarcerated individuals who are being detained pretrial to maintain their Medicaid coverage.

With that said, I say to all my colleagues here today:

Let’s not kid ourselves.

We are NOT meeting the moment.

This package falls far short of taking the necessary steps to address the deep need of this crisis.

We all know the scale of the devastating disease of addiction.

Frankly, I am disappointed that there is not the will to think big enough to address this crisis.

We know that our justice system is a revolving door for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Over half of people in state prisons and two thirds of individuals in jails have substance use disorder (SUD).

The need for uninterrupted and comprehensive coverage for individuals prior to release from incarceration has never been more critical, and the inability of Medicaid to cover otherwise eligible individuals has unintentionally stood in the way, creating burdens for law enforcement and obstacles for individuals who need care.

I am beyond disappointed that we couldn’t come together today to move forward the Reentry Act and the Due Process Continuity of Care Act.

Individuals reentering society after incarceration are some 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose in the first two weeks after release verses the general population.

By allowing inmates to receive addiction treatment and other services before returning home, my Reentry Act would bring targeted treatment to those at the highest risk of overdose.

The Due Process Continuity of Care Act would make certain that pretrial detainees are not kicked off Medicaid prior to ever being found guilty of a crime. 

We know these are the individuals at highest risk of overdose and suicide and yet we refuse to take meaningful action to save lives.

It’s unacceptable that the SUPPORT Act, aimed at saving lives and uplifting those in the throes of addiction, is overlooking those most at risk with the exclusion of Reentry and Due Process.

I am told that some people believe that justice involved individuals are not worthy of treatment or saving.

These are our loved ones. These are our friends. These are our neighbors. Our mothers, our fathers, our sons, our daughters, our brothers, our sisters- these are our families.

And I know that some people will talk about the costs of these bills, and I’ve been told that for some this isn’t a priority worth paying for.

Shame on us.

When nearly 110,000 of our loved ones dying from overdoses last year, how do we fall short of moving forward one of the most effective ways we can save lives. What are their lives worth?

To those bemoaning the expense of the bill I ask, how expensive is it for families to bury another one of their loved ones?

How expensive is it to get caught in a cycle of addiction and incarceration without any light at the end of the tunnel?

Personally, I measure success in lives saved and families kept whole. By that measurement, this is money well spent.

We know the human cost of inaction. To be precise last year we lost one hundred and nine thousand, six hundred and eighty lives. For each of those individuals, there is a whole universe of friends, family and communities impacted.

Is that a cost we are willing to bear?

Before I conclude I want to thank Rep. Turner, Rep. Trone and Rep. Rutherford and the many bipartisan cosponsors and supporters of Reentry and Due Process.

Thank you to the law enforcement, correctional leaders, faith leaders, medical experts, mental health and addiction leaders and other vocal advocates who recognize the need for prerelease addiction services and coordination of care.

I also want to thank the many members on both sides of the aisle who cosponsored the legislation and championed it.

The vast coalition and the wide bipartisan support on both these bills give me hope that there will be a day, and I hope that day is not to far away, where we can work together to get these lifesaving policies signed into law.

Communities are being ripped apart by poisons seemingly beyond our control.

With that in mind, our work is not done, and I hope we can find the will to truly meet the moment.  

Thank you. I yield back.