Trone Hosts Recovery Month Press Conference Alongside Bipartisan Lawmakers and Recovery Organizations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2022
Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov
Trone Hosts Recovery Month Press Conference Alongside Bipartisan Lawmakers and Recovery Organizations
Congressman David Trone (MD-06) discusses the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force’s updated legislative agenda at a Recovery Month press conference, alongside Reps. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Kuster (D-NH), and Dean (D-PA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman David Trone (MD-06), co-founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force, hosted a Recovery Month press conference alongside fellow Members of Congress, Mobilize Recovery, Caron Treatment Centers, and other community leaders. The bipartisan group of lawmakers included Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Annie Kuster (D-NH), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA).
The press conference addressed Task Force efforts to increase resources for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Since 1999, over one million Americans have died from drug overdoses. Last year, our country lost nearly 108,000 Americans to drug overdoses, over 70% of which involved the highly potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. In 2020, 2,499 Marylanders were lost to opioid overdoses. Throughout the course of its work, the Task Force has introduced over 100 bills to combat substance use disorder and its impacts, and 23 of those bills are led by Congressman Trone.
Every September during National Recovery Month, the Task Force leads Congress Goes Purple to reaffirm Congress’ commitment to passing effective, bipartisan legislation to combat the nation’s drug epidemic. This day of action was inspired by grassroots and local efforts focused on bringing awareness to America’s worsening addiction crisis.
“We’re here today, both Republicans and Democrats, to call on Congress to pass meaningful, bipartisan policies to save innocent lives in our communities. We’re here today because we’re not in the business of lip service – we’re in the business of action,” said Congressman David Trone. “As a 140-Member strong alliance to combat the addiction and mental health crises, the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force has introduced over 100 bills to address these epidemics and their grave impacts head-on. We have no doubt these policies will save countless lives and allow those suffering to find the road to recovery and live. That’s exactly what we’re here to do.”
A full recording of the press conference is available here.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees in the 117th Congress. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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