Ranking Member Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Committee Markup of Health and Education Reauthorizations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks during today’s markup to consider legislation to reauthorize the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA), the SCREENS for Cancer Act, and the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act.

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Cassidy’s speech as prepared for delivery can be found below:

Thank you, Chair Sanders.

Today, the Committee will consider legislation to reauthorize programs crucial to addressing the nation’s opioid epidemic and improving education research.

Appreciate Chair Sanders and the rest of the Committee for their work in getting these reauthorizations through the committee. It is our responsibility to properly evaluate and improve these programs, so they work properly for those using them and are an effective use of tax dollars. While Congress can continue to extend funding for expired programs, neglecting reauthorization prevents changes in policy. We also need to address programs we know are either not working or not meeting their full potential.

One important piece of legislation the Committee will be taking up is the SUPPORT Act, which expired at the end of September. This legislation responds to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic, focusing on prevention, treatment and recovery for those with substance use disorder.

It reauthorizes funding for residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women, training for first responders, resources for individuals in recovery re-entering the workforce, and programs to support children and youth mental health.

The opioid and fentanyl epidemic is devastating our communities and American families. Thousands of Americans die each month from an overdose. That is why reauthorizing and improving the SUPPORT Act is so important. I’m glad that is what we are doing today.

The Committee is also considering the Advancing Research in Education Act, which would reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act or “ESRA.” ESRA expired in 2008.

This legislation applies what we’ve learned about education research over the past 20 years. It improves education research at the Institute of Education Sciences and enhances evidence-use in the classroom to improve students' academic outcomes, addressing concerns we’ve heard from researchers and education leaders. 

I thank my colleagues for their collaboration, and I look forward to today’s markup.

Thank you.

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