Rep. Chu Named to Conference Committee for Opioid Legislation

Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) as one of the Democrats who will serve on a conference committee to complete legislation addressing the opioid epidemic. The conference committee was selected to reconcile the 18 opioid bills passed by the House of Representatives last week with the single opioid measure passed by the Senate in March. The compromise legislation reconciled by the conference committee will then be resubmitted to the House and Senate for final approval. Rep. Chu released the following statement:

“I am privileged to be a conferee on this important issue. With 78 Americans dying from an opioid overdose every day, ensuring that we have the appropriate resources for prevention, treatment, and recovery is a responsibility I take seriously. This epidemic cuts across racial, ethnic, and economic lines, leavening no community in our country untouched. If we are going to end this epidemic, help individuals overcome their addiction, and keep others from succumbing, then we’ll need more than a reshuffling of resources. As a member of the conference committee, I’m committed to making sure the final opioid bill is a strong as possible for all communities.

Rep. Chu serves as a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over 4 opioid bills passed by the House last week.

In addition to Rep. Chu, the other Democratic Conferees to the Opioids Bill Conference Committee are:

· Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Ranking Member, Energy and Commerce Committee,

· Congressman John Conyers of Michigan, Ranking Member, Judiciary Committee,

· Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Virginia, Ranking Member, Education and Workforce Committee,

· Congressman Jim McDermott of Washington,

· Congressman Gene Green of Texas,

· Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas,

· Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut,

· Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland,

· Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico,

· Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut,

· Congresswoman Ann Kuster of New Hampshire

· Congressman Raul Ruiz of California.