On Wednesday, May 18th family members impacted by addiction gave testimony in front of members of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, led by Task Force Co-Chairs Frank Guinta (R-NH) and Ann Kuster (D-NH). These families travelled from across the nation and shared their experiences in order to emphasize the pressing need for congress to lead the nation towards a comprehensive response to addiction.
Thursday, May 19th, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Congressman Frank Guinta (R-NH), Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), and Congressman Robert J. Dold (R-IL) spoke at the 129 a Day press conference, along with several family members, and recognized the families who lost a loved one to a substance use disorder.
Families then met with their members of Congress to encourage them to pass legislation that will comprehensively address the opioid epidemic, including S. 524/H.R. 953, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA). CARA Family Day attendees advocated for those with substance abuse disorder, and their families, stressing the importance of a comprehensive response to addiction, which includes prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement.