Congressional Roundtable Seeks Solutions to Reducing Impact of Opioids Crisis in Appalachia

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pennsylvania, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release:

A congressional subcommittee met with federal, state, and local officials and private sector experts today in Somerset, Pennsylvania to examine the impacts of the opioids crisis on economic development and the workforce in Appalachia, and discuss ways to address this critical issue.

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta (PA-11), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, and U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus (PA-12) led today's roundtable policy discussion on barriers to economic growth created by opioids, possible solutions, and how federal economic development agencies can help states and communities thrive.

Barletta's subcommittee has jurisdiction over federal economic development agencies, including the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which was established in 1965 to provide economic development assistance to a 13-state region.

"There isn't a community across America that hasn't been impacted by the opioid crisis, but it has disproportionally devastated the Appalachian region," Barletta said. "To battle this epidemic, we must have a strong response that addresses not only access to treatment and prevention methods, but also the impact on economic development and labor force participation. I thank Congressman Rothfus and the other participants for joining me today to help us find real-world solutions that will give communities across Pennsylvania the tools they need to combat the opioid crisis. I thank Chairman Shuster for his continued work on this important matter and I look forward to continuing our efforts to address the opioid crisis with the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management."

"The opioid crisis has devastated families, neighbors, and citizens in communities across Western Pennsylvania, and has severely impacted our economy, education, criminal justice, and healthcare systems," said Rep. Rothfus. "We must combat this crisis with a comprehensive approach that focuses on treatment, prevention, and enforcement. And we must also work together to help provide economic opportunity to those in recovery. I thank the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Lou Barletta for hosting this roundtable in Somerset. He continues to be a leader on this issue. I am a proud cosponsor of his bill, the Treating Barriers to Prosperity Act, that will help direct Appalachian Regional Commission funds to address opioid-related workforce issues and economic development concerns. Also, I want to thank Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster for his continued leadership on these matters."

"Republicans have made a $4 billion investment to help our nation combat addiction and save lives. With additional resources to help treat, prevent, and stop addiction, our communities are 'Better Off Now' in the face of this crisis. However, there is still more work that must be done," said House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). "At all levels - from the doctor's office, to our local businesses, to Congress - we need more solutions to give people help and hope. I applaud and thank Reps. Lou Barletta and Keith Rothfus for bringing people together to discuss those solutions at their roundtable."

The opioids crisis is widespread across the Unites States, but is particularly devastating to the Appalachian region. Last year, ARC commissioned two reports specifically examining potential health challenges to economic development in Appalachia. For example, the reports found that, in overdose deaths, the mortality rate among individuals 25 to 44 years old was 70 percent higher in Appalachia than the mortality rate in the non-Appalachian states. Typically, this age group includes those in their prime working years, which has created a significant challenge to economic development in the region.

In March, Chairman Barletta, Rep. Rothfus, and several of their House of Representatives colleagues introduced the bipartisan Treating Barriers to Prosperity Act of 2018 (H.R. 5294) (https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402601) to help ensure that federal funding available through the Appalachian Regional Commission may be used to address the opioid crisis and mitigate impacts on the region's workforce and job growth. The bill clarifies that funds can be used to facilitate the regional sharing of best practices to reduce opioid abuse; support programs designed to eliminate or reduce the harm to workers and to economic growth; attract and retain health care services, businesses, and workers; and develop relevant infrastructure, including broadband, to support telemedicine. H.R. 5294 was overwhelmingly approved by the House on June 13, 2018, and now awaits Senate action.

Video of today's roundtable, a list of all participants, and additional background information is available here (https://transportation.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=402690).