Jane Cabot

Signed out for real. You can skip the 24 hour count, Grant.

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OFFICE OF SENATOR ELEANOR O'SULLIVAN

437 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

FAO: ALL NEWSDESKS
EMBARGO: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

O'Sullivan fights to secure federal support for rural opioid crisis medical response

NORWAY, MAINE-- Senator Eleanor O'Sullivan visited Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway, Maine, where she met with doctors and nurses working on the front lines of Maine's response to the opioid epidemic following the passage of her amendment to strengthen the rural medical response to the opioid and addition crisis. Stephens Memorial Hospital serves as one of the major training sites for the Rural Internal Medicine Residency Program offered through MaineHealth. "I'm so thankful for all of the work that you do for families here in Norway and across Oxford County," said Senator O'Sullivan as she spoke to some of the residents and their mentors at Stephens Memorial. "Your work in tackling the opioid epidemic in Maine is vital work and it's my job in Washington to make sure that you get the support you need from the government. And we're making some progress on that."

Senator O'Sullivan's amendment, which was accepted into the bill that passed the Senate unanimously, provides funding to train 1,500 additional doctors in treating addiction. Of these 1,500 residency positions, no less than 300 are designated for rural hospitals like Stephens Memorial. "There is an urgent need to improve our medical workforce in rural area, particularly when it comes to dealing with addition and pain medicine. Overprescription of opioids has left families throughout rural Maine seeking emergency treatment from physicians, nurses, and social workers trained to treat addition and substance abuse. Building a strong rural medicine workforce is the first step towards ensuring that Mainers in need of addiction treatment or with family members in need of addiction treatment can get it in their communities, instead of having to travel to Portland or other cities."

Meeting with hospital administrators and leaders in the residency program at Stephens Memorial, Senator O'Sullivan emphasized her work to ensure that rural residency programs can get federal support and access to resources in order to make addiction medicine and substance abuse training core parts of their curriculums. "I think we all know that addiction and substance abuse can get pushed to the side because the federal government, which funds residency programs like this one, has never made them a priority. I'm working to change that by making sure that the federal government gives rural residency programs the resources they need to train new doctors and equip them with the skills that they need to confront addiction in our communities. The program that I'm working to create is a first step towards building stronger health care practices in rural Maine and across rural America, as well as a first step towards confronting the opioid epidemic that is gripping our communities."

Senator O'Sullivan closed our her visit by speaking with doctors and families about her commitment to make rural health and strengthening primary health care a top priority in the Senate, as well as strengthening our medical response to the opioid epidemic. "We need leaders in Washington who are leading the way in the fight against substance abuse in our communities, ensuring that doctors and families on the front lines of the fight against opioids in towns like Norway get the support that they critically need. I see a bipartisan way forward to get that done and I'm looking forward to achieving it."

The Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act, which contains Senator O'Sullivan's proposal for training more addiction medicine physicians in rural areas, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Senator O'Sullivan expressed hope that the bill would be passed by the House of Representatives in short order and signed by President Stokes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MS. O'SULLIVAN (for herself and MR. KINCAID, with thanks to Mr. Whitehouse and Mr. Ossoff), introduced

A BILL

To establish a Coastal New England Regional Commission, enhance the powers of regional commissions, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Local Opioid Response and Regional Commission Enhancement Act".

SEC. 2. COASTAL NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL COMMISSION.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There shall be established the Coastal New England Regional Commission ("the Commission"), which shall be structured and function in the manner of the regional commissions established under section 15301 of title 40 of the United States Code.

(b) DESIGNATION OF REGION- The region of the Coastal New England Regional Commission shall consist of the following counties:

(1) MAINE- The counties of Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Cumberland, and York in the State of Maine.

(2) NEW HAMPSHIRE- The counties of Rockingham and Strafford in the State of New Hampshire.

(3) MASSACHUSETTS- The counties of Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Essex in the State of Massachusetts.

(4) RHODE ISLAND- Each county in the State of Rhode Island.

(5) CONNECTICUT- The counties of New London, New Haven, and Middlesex in the State of Connecticut.

(c) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES- In addition to the authorities granted to the Commission in 40 U.S. Code § 15501(a), the Commission shall be entitled to make grants for the purposes of:

(1) supporting the maritime industrial economy, including the boat and ship building and repair industries;

(2) assisting in the development of developing defense manufacturing and maintenance industries, with a particular emphasis on naval manufacturing and maintenance; and

(3) promoting the implementation of environmentally sustainable fishing practices in local and regional fisheries.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There shall be authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 per year to the Coastal New England Regional Commission.

SEC. 3. REGIONAL COMMISSION POWERS TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS.

(a) COMMISSION AUTHORITIES- In addition to the authorities granted to the Commission in 40 U.S. Code § 15501(a), the commissions established under 40 U.S. Code § 15301 shall be entitled to make grants for the purposes of:

(1) providing assistance to severely economically distressed and underdeveloped areas of a region that lack financial resources for improving access to basic health care, including primary care, family medicine, psychiatry, and substance abuse treatment; and

(2) providing employment training for populations seeking employment, including parents in poverty, adults in recovery, and reentry adults.

(b) RURAL COMMUNITY RESPONSE PROGRAMS- There shall be authorized a pilot program within the Department of Justice to promote partnerships with regional commissions to implement community response programs that focus on reducing opioid overdose deaths, which may include presenting alternatives to incarceration.

(1) The regional commissions shall be authorized to make grants to rural areas to implement community response programs to reduce opioid overdose deaths.

(2) Grants authorized under this subsection shall consist of partnerships between the regional commissions and state and local governments in cooperation with public safety and public health agencies or public safety, public health and behavioral health collaborations.

(3) Community response program funded under this subsection shall identify gaps in community prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals who encounter the criminal justice system and shall establish treatment protocols to address identified shortcomings.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS-

(1) There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 per year for five years for the purpose of making grants in areas authorized by subsection (a) of this section, which shall be distributed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the commissions established under 40 U.S. Code § 15301 that establish grant programs and initiatives in this area. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be authorized to develop an application process for these funds.

(2) There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 per year for five years for the purpose of making grants in areas authorized by subsection (b) of this section, which shall be distributed by the Attorney General to the commissions established under 40 U.S. Code § 15301 that establish grant programs and initiatives in this area. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be authorized to develop an application process for these funds.

Aye

OFFICE OF SENATOR ELEANOR O'SULLIVAN

437 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

FAO: ALL NEWSDESKS
EMBARGO: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bipartisan Statement on Judicial Nominees

THE CAPITOL-- Senators Eleanor O’Sullivan (R-ME), Michael Talbot (D-MT), William Johnson (D-VA), Jonah Woodard (R-MT), Francis Bishop (R-PA), and Henry Kincaid (D-CT) released a joint statement outlining key considerations for nominations to the Supreme Court for the coming session of Congress. The senators outlined a Memorandum of Understanding containing the following key points:

1. Reaffirming a commitment to maintaining the 60-vote threshold for nominations to the Supreme Court.

2. Calling upon the President to renominate Merrick Garland to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

3. Committing to secure sufficient votes for Judge Garland’s nomination to proceed with a final floor vote under Rule XXII should he be renominated.

4. Remaining actively engaged in fulfilling the Senate’s constitutional duty to provide “Advice” to the President regarding judicial nominations, including consulting with the President prior to the President submitting a nomination to the Senate.

5. Viewing the provisions of this memorandum as joint in nature and non-severable.

“Having voted for four Supreme Court nominees during my time in office, I am disappointed that appointments to the highest court in the land have become a political football,” said Senator O’Sullivan. “It is our hope that with this agreement we can chart a path towards ensuring rationality and bipartisan action when it comes to appointments to the Supreme Court. It is my hope that, with bipartisan consensus, we can see qualified judges given a fair hearing and confirmed to the Supreme Court based on their ability to justly interpret the law, not their adherence to ideology. That starts with ensuring Merrick Garland gets that fair consideration that he deserves to be a justice of the Supreme Court.”

Senator Johnson (D-VA) explained his support for the bipartisan statement:  “I was truly dismayed at the unprecedented obstruction of Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court by former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. But this is a new day, and there are members in the Republican Party who would work across the aisle, and so I am proud to join with colleagues in both parties to support another chance for Judge Garland, and to support important traditions such as the filibuster.”  

Adding onto the statements from other members of the bipartisan group, Senator Talbot (D-MT) emphasized the importance of fostering “an impartial and nonpartisan judiciary”, unbound to the ideological polarization often encouraged by political factions. “By renominating Judge Garland, we would take a major step towards reversing the growing trend of hyperpartisanship plaguing the Senate’s nominations. We would also make strides towards restoring the legitimacy of the Court in the eyes of the American people. Rather than confirm radical judges beholden to extreme ideological agendas, bipartisan support for Judge Garland would send a message that the only priority of all members of our highest court should be to defend and interpret the Constitution-- nothing more.” 

Following on from his opposite number in the state of Montana, Senator Woodard (R-MT) welcomed the “willingness of colleagues to work together” on “important issues, pragmatically on a case-by-case basis that affect our constituents. “In any other place of work up and down these United States, working together with colleagues of different beliefs is more than common place. Just because we are in politics, why should this be any different? I’m glad to stand here with colleagues who are willing to do the right thing, build consensus and commit to solving the case of adding a sensible balance to our Supreme Court. We above all want to see the rule of law upheld as it was written, free of ideological interpretation. This is what makes this bipartisan support for Judge Garland an obvious issue with work with colleagues across the aisle on.”

The Memorandum between the senators highlights the critical need for bipartisan cooperation in Washington. “We look forward to returning a spirit of bipartisanship and functionality to Congress,” said Senator O’Sullivan. “We’ve seen the senators work together to overcome hurdles before. We need a new commitment to solving problems and delivering results for the American people on Capitol Hill. That is the purpose of this group.”

The working group of senators behind the memorandum committed to regular meetings throughout the current session of Congress.

Aye.

Aye.

Mr. President, I second the amendment offered by the Majority Leader.

I yield.

Mr. President,

I move to amend by adding the following two sections to the legislation.

Quote

SEC. X. ADDITIONAL RESIDENCY POSITIONS TO COMBAT THE OPIOID CRISIS.

 

(a) ADDITIONAL RESIDENCY POSITIONS- For each of five fiscal years following the passage of this Act, the Secretary shall increase the otherwise applicable resident limit for each qualifying hospital that submits a timely application under this section by such number as the Secretary may approve, effective for portions of cost reporting periods occurring on or after July 1 of the fiscal year of the increase. The aggregate number of additional full-time equivalent resident positions available for distribution under this section shall be equal to 1,500, distributed in accordance with the succeeding subparagraphs of this paragraph.

 

(b) DISTRIBUTION OF RESIDENCY POSITIONS-

 

(1) IN GENERAL-

 

(i) In the fiscal year following the passage of this Act, no less than 500 and no more than 750 of the positions described in paragraph (a) may only be distributed to hospitals that have established (as of the date of the enactment of this Act) approved programs in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine, as determined by the Secretary;

 

(ii) In the four fiscal years following the first fiscal year following the passage of this Act, the remainder of the positions described in paragraph (a) and not distributed in the first fiscal year following the passage of this act shall be distributed to hospitals which demonstrate to the Secretary that the hospital has established or will establish an approved residency training program in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine.

 

(2) CONSIDERATIONS IN DISTRIBUTION- The Secretary shall distribute additional residency positions under this section based on the demonstrated likelihood (as determined by the Secretary) of the hospital filling such positions.

 

(i) The Secretary shall distribute no less than 20% of the additional residency positions authorized under this section to rural residency programs, as defined by the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration. Should this not be possible, the Secretary shall report to Congress that this was not achievable and may distribute positions elsewhere; Provided that, the Secretary submit a report to Congress on a strategy to increase recruitment of qualified individuals to rural residency programs under this section.

 

(3) REQUIREMENTS- A hospital that receives an increase in the otherwise applicable resident limit under this subparagraph shall ensure, during the 5-year period beginning after the date of such increase, that the hospital uses the positions made available under this section for a program in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine or a program that is a prerequisite (as determined by the Secretary) for such a program so described, such as internal medicine, primary care, family medicine, of psychiatry. The Secretary may determine whether a hospital has met the requirements under this clause during such 5-year period in such manner and at such time as the Secretary determines appropriate, including at the end of such 5-year period.

 

(i) Effective the second fiscal year following the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to ensure that prerequisite programs receiving additional residency allocations contain a significant training component focused on addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine.

 

(4) REDISTRIBUTION- If the Secretary finds that a hospital receiving an increased number of medical resident positions does not fulfill the obligations provided for under this section, the Secretary may reduce the number of medical resident positions at that hospital and redistribute them to hospitals capable of meeting the obligations provided for in this section.

 

(c) PLAIN ENGLISH SUMMARY- This section increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain medicine programs, with an aggregate increase of 1,500 positions over a five-year period. Credit for this section is attributed to Senator Maggie Hassan.

 

SEC. X. RURAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN ADDICTION MEDICINE.

 

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall, acting through the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, establish a program to improve substance abuse, addition medicine, addition psychiatry, and pain medicine training in accredited rural residency programs in family medicine, primary care, psychiatry, pediatrics, and preventative medicine.

 

(1) REQUIREMENTS- Such a program shall provide assistance to existing rural residency programs to modify their curriculums to better incorporate training in addition medicine, addition psychiatry, and pain medicine, into existing residency programs or to create new rural residency programs in family medicine, primary care, psychiatry, pediatrics, and preventative medicine that include significant addition medicine, addition psychiatry, and pain medicine components (as determined by the Secretary).

 

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 to the Health Resources and Services Administration to carry out the provisions of of this section.

I yield.

Aye

Mr. President,

I would like to note for the body that I am preparing an amendment to be submitted in the near future.

I yield.

(Just a note before someone rushes to invoke cloture.)

Nay on Recks.

Aye on Jack.

OFFICE OF SENATOR ELEANOR O'SULLIVAN

437 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

FAO: ALL NEWSDESKS
EMBARGO: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

O'Sullivan comments on election results, future for the Republican Party

PORTLAND, MAINE-- Speaking in Portland, Maine, Senator Eleanor O'Sullivan addressed the results of the 2016 election, congratulating Nolan Stokes and Nathan Cohen on their elections as President and Vice President of the United States, respectively. "Obviously it was a hard fought election and now Senators Stokes and Cohen are the President-elect and Vice President-elect. I wish them well because ultimately their ability to succeed is directly tied to the success of the United States." Speaking to a local journalist she added, "I think its safe to say Nolan Stokes wasn't my first choice. I'm not entirely sure he was my second. But like it or not, he's the President-elect and I'll do what I can to work with him."

Among the areas that could see cooperation are confirming a highly qualified Supreme Court nominee "in the mold of Justice Kennedy", raising the minimum wage, supporting America's rural communities, and combatting climate change. "Let's take a step back from the rhetoric on the Green New Deal and just agree that something has to be done," said Senator O'Sullivan on the topic of climate change. "Let's make sure we're addressing some very legitimate concerns about how we're getting there. Things like heating assistance and support for communities in colder climates or understanding that white elephant transportation schemes just won't work in states like Maine."

Senator O'Sullivan also issued some cautions for the President-elect, noting that, "He never addressed taxes. Not in his platform, nor in his campaign. There is not mandate to radically reform our tax code and hike taxes for millions of Americans - particularly for small business owners." In a compilation of documents from the Stokes campaign, O'Sullivan noted that, "I don't see one thing here about higher taxes. Not even in the coded language of a 'fairer' tax system. So that's going to be a test for this administration." The Senator also noted her concerns about his foreign policy agenda, noting that, "You can have different concepts of what we should do in the world, but I think the idea of American retreat is a bad one." She also said, "There was a lot of coded language about 'brinksmanship' - I don't think there's a full understanding of that term. But we cannot let Cold War concepts dictate our view of security commitments in Europe and the Pacific. I'll be holding this administration to account on that."

"Republicans could do with a period of soul searching," she added. The Senator, who was repeatedly criticized as a "RINO" said, "I'm not saying that the party needs to adopt my particular brand of conservatism. But we need to focus on governing, not just the partisan gimmicks that have become hallmarks of our political system over the past several years." Speaking with constituents, she pointed to government shutdowns and the refusal to hold hearings on Merrick Garland's nomination as things that the Republican Party must avoid. Speaking to one constituent she quipped, "I bet Mitch McConnell is wishing he held hearings on Judge Garland's nomination now."