| COMBATTING THE OPIOID CRISIS |
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For the past seven years, I’ve hosted an Opioid and Addiction Roundtable to collaborate with local experts on innovative solutions to combat the addiction epidemic. This year I am holding a series of socially-distanced roundtables throughout Ohio's 15th District. Earlier this month, we kicked off the series in Lancaster, pictured above.
This event has consistently spurred policy ideas and local initiatives to support preventative measures, treatment, housing and employment assistance for those battling addiction. As opioid-related deaths have spiked during the coronavirus pandemic, these conversations are more important than ever.
I held the second of this year’s roundtables in Circleville, shown above. According to the Centers for Disease Control, overdose deaths increased last year to a record 71,000. In Ohio, deaths decreased slightly to 3,980. That’s reason to be optimistic, but early reports from 2020 indicate that these deaths have been increasing again during the ongoing public health crisis. We’ve seen that it’s possible to combat this epidemic, but we need to make sure we aren’t losing sight of it amidst coronavirus.
I’m grateful to everyone who’s participated in these roundtables; they have fostered comprehensive discussions from people of all different backgrounds and areas of expertise, and they allow me to learn and take these ideas right back to Washington. Conversations from this roundtable have led to bills that are, right now, making a difference in Ohio, and nationwide.
One of these bills is the Protecting our Infants Act. This bill, that I introduced with Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA) was signed into law in 2015 and is working right now to protect innocent victims of the opiate crisis. This effort requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take actions to reverse the dangerous trend of thousands of babies being born addicted to drugs every year.
Earlier this month, I also joined a bicameral, bipartisan group of my colleagues to urge the DEA to update their policies and properly implement partial fill provisions that I authored and that were signed into law with the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). This letter was crucial progress to help the far too many people who fuel their addictions from the medicine cabinets of friends and family.
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CARES ACT WORKING FOR OH15
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I met with Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit system Director Carrie Woody, pictured above, to hear how the CARES Act is working for them. We also discussed what challenges they are facing now.
Earlier this year, I voted for the CARES Act to make sure business and organizations like Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit have the federal funding resources needed to keep our region running.
Additional help from the CARES Act has been a lifeline for many businesses. In Ohio's 15th District alone, almost 10,000 businesses received loans less and were able to save nearly 50,000 jobs. Moving forward, we need to keep these businesses and organizations at the forefront of the discussion and ensure that they have the flexibility they need in any relief package.
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| FLU SHOTS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR |
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Earlier this month, I got a flu shot at Circleville Apothecary, pictured above. This year, getting your flu shot is more important than ever. Not only will it help keep your neighbors and our community safe, but it will help free up capacity at hospitals and will give health care professionals more time and resources to focus on treating patients with COVID-19.
To learn more about the flu shot, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Protection's website at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/flushot.htm |
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| SUPPORTING MAIN STREET |
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During my tour of downtown Circleville, pictured above, I enjoyed the chance to meet with some incredible small business owners. The pandemic created many struggles for countless Ohioans. Unfortunately, the Pumpkin Show was one of the cancellations this year. This means 400,000 people won't be visiting the Greatest Free Show on Earth. Though this change will undoubtedly hurt downtown, I'm confident that our community will rally around our small business owners and help them weather this storm.
I'm proud of the work Pickaway County has done so far, I remain committed to doing everything I can in Congress to make sure that the 15th District benefits from any COVID-19 relief moving forward.
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| A SPECIAL THANK YOU |
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| I was honored to present a proclamation to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Larry McCauley, a member of the Greatest Generation, upon his nomination for the French Legion of Honor. Staff Sergeant McCauley, pictured above, has shown bravery, commitment to freedom, leadership, and much more to rightfully earn this honor. Thank you Staff Sergeant McCauley, and to everyone who has contributed to our country's proud history of military service. |
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