Thread by @RepDavidTrone

It’s time to take action.

That’s why today I'm announcing the formation of the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction. 36 Democrats and Republicans from the freshman class have come together in this group to focus on promoting policies to #EndtheAddictionCrisis

This bipartisan group of freshmen will bring fresh eyes to one of the most devastating crises facing our country. We will:

- Learn from experts and stakeholders
- Visit institutions focusing on research and treatment
- Promote legislation to tackle the epidemic

The numbers are devastating:

- 192 people die every day from drug overdoses
- Last year over 70,000 people died from drug overdoses
- Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than a car crash

This cannot continue. We must come together to end this crisis.

This day feels surreal for me. In 2016, I lost my nephew Ian to a fentanyl overdose at the age of 24 after five years of working with him to get treatment from some of the best programs and therapists possible.

No family deserves to suffer the loss of a loved one to addiction.

Thank you to all of the Freshmen Members who are tackling this together:
@RepArmstrongND
@RepTimBurchett
@RepGilCisneros
@RepBenCline
@RepTjCox
@RepAngieCraig
@RepDanCrenshaw
@RepJasonCrow
@RepDean
@repdelgado
@RepLanceGooden
@RepDebHaaland
@RepJahanaHayes
@RepKatieHill

@RepHoulahan
@RepDustyJohnson
@RepKirkpatrick
@RepSusieLee
@RepMikeLevin
@RepBenMcAdams
@RepMeuser
@RepChrisPappas
@GReschenthaler
@RepRiggleman
@RepMaxRose

@RepShalala
@RepSherrill
@RepSpanberger
@RepBryanSteil
@RepVanTaylor
@RepRashida
@RepLoriTrahan
@Rep_Watkins
@RepWexton
@RepSusanWild

Let’s get to work. Let’s #EndtheAddictionCrisis