{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://macarthur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-macarthur-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-help-adolescents", "Congressman MacArthur Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Help Adolescents Struggling with Addiction", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Tom MacArthur", "M001193", "macarthur.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Republican Chairman of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) introduced the College Loan Deferment for Recovery Act. This bill would allow borrowers enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program to defer payments on public student loans, while actively receiving treatment without interest accruing during the deferment period.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe opioid epidemic continues to destroy communities across the United States, and in many cases, young Americans transitioning to adulthood are the most heavily impacted by this crisis,\u201d said Congressman MacArthur. \u201cThis bipartisan bill will allow young adults to focus on treatment and overcoming addiction without having to worry about the financial burden of student loans. Young Americans, who are on the road to recovery, should have financial peace of mind while receiving life-saving treatment for addiction.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cFamilies shouldn\u2019t have to choose between seeking treatment for their loved ones struggling with opioid addiction and paying the bills,\u201d Congresswomen Esty said. \u201cThe pain of helping a family member seek treatment and recover is difficult enough; no one should have to tell their son or daughter that the family can\u2019t afford to treat their child. By allowing Americans to defer student loan payments while receiving state-approved treatment, this bill will be a small step forward in our efforts to combat the opioid crisis and repair families. Like Congressman MacArthur, I\u2019m committed to working across party lines to ensure that we heal everyone we can.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u201cCongressman MacArthur should be commended for his wanting to help persons in recovery in a very meaningful & measurable way,\u201d said James P. Curtin, President\u00a0 & Chief Executive Officer of Daytop New Jersey. \u201cAll too often financial pressure can act as a relapse trigger. This relief, while someone is actively engaged in treatment, will go a long way in supporting someone\u2019s path to recovery.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u201cOne in ten.\u00a0 The percentage of people suffering with a substance use disorder who get the treatment they so desperately need is nothing short of tragic.\u00a0 The legislation proposed by Representatives Esty and MacArthur removes a substantial barrier to that treatment.\u00a0 Fully committing to an effective recovery program optimizes the chance that a young person can change the trajectory of their life -\u00a0 the lasting outcomes to that investment are enormous,\u201d said Maria Coutant Skinner from the McCall Center for Behavioral Health in Torrington, CT.", 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://macarthur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-macarthur-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-help-adolescents"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1908728629350662, "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"}