WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Jason Lewis (MN-02) issued the following statement after his bipartisan bill, H.R. 5892, to establish an advisory committee on opioids and the workplace passed the House this afternoon.
“It’s vital that my colleagues and I come together to address the opioid epidemic head-on, with purposeful legislation that combats the crisis from all angles—including in the workplace. I’m thankful to have worked across the aisle with Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-17) on this bill to help address the harmful effects of opioid abuse in the workplace and take proactive steps to see what actions employers can take to address affected employees. My bill is one of the important pieces of legislation the House advanced this week to help our communities address this crisis.”
Background:
· 70 percent of the almost 15 million Americans misusing drugs, including opioids, are currently employed.
· According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of overdose fatalities on the job has increased by at least 25 percent annually since 2012.
· In February of this year, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, and the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a joint hearing to examine how the epidemic is affecting workplaces and hear from business owners who have taken steps to address problems of substance abuse and addiction in the workplace.
· The U.S. Department of Labor could benefit greatly from more information about the solutions originating from the private sector to address the challenges of maintaining a healthy workforce in the face of the opioid epidemic.
