{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://jasonlewis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=182", "Lewis hosts opioid roundtable", "2018-07-02", "2018", "2018-07", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Jason Lewis", "L000587", "jasonlewis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.- .- Congressman Jason Lewis (MN-02) issued the following statement after hosting an Opioid Roundtable this afternoon in Apple Valley, discussing the opioid epidemic as it affects Minnesotans, the efforts led by Congressman Lewis to combat the issue, and more with fellow panelists.\r\nOur country is facing an opioid addiction crisis that is devastating our communities, and my colleagues and I in the House are workingto combat this epidemicincluding passing my bipartisan bill to develop an advisory committee on opioids in the workforce so employers can effectively address addiction as it affects their employees.Ourcommunitiesneedthe flexibility and resources to tackle the crisis, and weneed to do a betterhelpingtreat addictions as medical issues instead of just a criminal issue.\r\nHowever, we cannot adequately address this crisis with federal legislation alone.Cooperation between federal, state, and local entitiesis the key totruly getting a handle on this crisis.That is whyIwas proud to hosttoday's roundtable to bringtogether local stakeholders to discuss the ways we can address opioid addiction in the Second District and Minnesota as a whole.\r\nBackground:\r\nRoundtable attendees:\r\n1.Congressman Jason Lewis\r\n2.BryanKlabunde(MN Farmers Union)\r\n3.LarryBourgerie(Society for Human Resource Management)\r\n4.Ben Schmidt (Former addict and author of Six Years Lost)\r\n5.MauraMcGarry, LGSW (Minneapolis VA  Opiate Treatment Program)\r\n\r\nMore on the Congressman's Legislation:\r\nH.R. 5892  Opioid Advisory Committee at Departmentof Labor\r\nThis bipartisan legislationwasintroduced with Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)and wouldcreate an Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary of Labor on actions the Department can take to address the impact of opioid abuse on the workplace.Itpassed the House by voice vote on June 13, 2018.\r\n\r\nThe Advisory Committee will discuss opioid abuse and its impact on employer substance abuse policies, employer-provided benefits, workplace safety, productivity and absenteeism, alternative pain management treatments, employee privacy, community-based initiatives, and workplace policies to reduce the stigma of opioid abuse.The Advisory Committee will issue a report on successful programs and best practices for how employers can engage with employees impacted by opioid abuse.\r\n\r\nGroups Supporting: Minnesota Safety Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Society of Safety Professionals, American Trucking Association, Associated General Contractors ofAmerica, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Employee Assistance Professional Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Safety Council\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://jasonlewis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=182"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.870055053383112, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}