releases: https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-announces-roundtable-discussion-sharing-personal-stories
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-announces-roundtable-discussion-sharing-personal-stories | Greg Walden announces roundtable discussion sharing personal stories from opioid crisis | 2018-04-18 | 2018 | 2018-04 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden announces roundtable discussion sharing personal stories from opioid crisis Walden invites Grants Pass mother to participate in discussion with advocates from across the country WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced a roundtable discussion for tomorrow, April 19, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. ET in Washington, D.C. The roundtable discussion is entitled, Personal Stories from the Opioid Crisis, and will feature participants from across the country who have been personally impacted by the opioid crisis. Walden invited a mother from Grants Pass, who has two sons that have suffered from addiction, to participate in the roundtable via video conference. The roundtable will follow three legislative hearings to examine the opioid crisis and possible legislative solutions. In February, the Energy and Commerce Committee reviewed eight bills pertaining to the Controlled Substances Act that will improve patient safety and bolster enforcement tools. In March, Walden held a two-day hearing examining 25 prevention and public health solutions (read a recap of day one here and a recap of day two here). Last week, the Energy and Commerce Committee held its final legislative hearing and reviewed coverage and payment issues within Medicare and Medicaid. The roundtable discussion will feature a first-hand look at many issues within the opioid crisis, including the rise of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, and patient brokering. Both issues have been the subject of hearings and investigations by Rep. Walden and his Committee. Confirmed participants include: Paula Peterson, of Grants Pass, Oregon, whose two sons have both suffered from addiction. Kathy O'Keefe, Executive Director, Winning the Fight, whose son Brett, passed away from a heroin overdose in 2010. Gary Mendell, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Shatterproof, who lost his son Brian in 2011 to suicide after 13 months substance-free. Mary Winnefeld, Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic (S.A.F.E. Project US), mother of Jonathan, who just passed away in 2017 from a fentanyl-laden batch of heroin just days after he started college. Devon Hott, Director of Operations, Recovery Care Partner, and who has been in recovery for more than three years. Aimee Manzoni D'Arpino, Massachusetts State Chair, Addiction Policy Forum, who lost her son Emmett to substance use disorder in 2016. Michael Gray, father of Amanda, who suffered from acute mental illness and passed away after a fentanyl overdose in 2018. Lisa Daniels, mother of Jamie, who fell victim to the nefarious practice of patient brokering and passed away in 2016 from a fentanyl-laced heroin overdose. Gail Smith, Prevention Plus of Burlington County and the Kenny Smith Freedom Foundation, who lost her son Kenny to overdose after he was exploited by a fraudulent recovery residence. More information, including a list of participants and prepared remarks for the roundtable will be available here as they are posted. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |