The House on Wednesday appointed a total of 35 members to serve on a conference committee with the Senate to hash out final details of legislation to enhance opioid abuse treatment and prevention.  

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin appointed 21 Republicans to the conference committee while Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California appointed 14 Democrats.  

The House and Senate measures provide authorization but not appropriations for millions in new or expanded grant programs, overseen by the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services. But there are some differences on how the programs are structured and funded.   

[Finally, House Action on Opioids]

The Senate passed a comprehensive bill while the House passed 18 individual measures. Among the House proposals: allowing patients to only partially fill opioid prescriptions, requiring the Food and Drug Administration to work with expert advisory committees before approving opioid products and drug labels, and expanding residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum opioid addicts.    

[Family’s Tragedy Drives Opioid Bill]

“We cannot let up on this,” Ryan said in a statement. “These members and their committees have led this charge, and we look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to get a bill to the president’s desk.”  

Pelosi said Republicans have obstructed efforts to provide new funding for the grants the legislation authorizes and suggested the fight will continue during conference committee discussions.   

[Republicans Kill $600 Million In Emergency Funds To Fight Opioid Crisis]

“Our Democratic conferees will lead the way in pressing Congress to respond to this national emergency with the seriousness and urgency it requires,” she said in a statement.   

Republican Conferees:

• Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California
• Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan 
• Judiciary Chairman Robert W. Goodlatte of Virginia
• Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin
• Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas
• Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania
• Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia
• Rep. Dave Trott of Michigan
• Rep. Mike Bishop of Michigan
• Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania 
• Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey
• Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky
• Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
• Rep. Larry Bucshon of Indiana
• Rep. Susan W. Brooks of Indiana
• Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania
• Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter of Georgia
• Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida
• Rep. Jackie Walorski of Indiana
• Rep. Patrick Meehan of Pennsylvania
• Rep. Robert J. Dold of Illinois 

Democratic Conferees:

• Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. of New Jersey, 
• Judiciary ranking member John Conyers Jr. of Michigan
• Education and Workforce ranking member Robert C. Scott of Virginia
• Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington
• Rep. Gene Green of Texas
• Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas
• Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut
• Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee
• Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland
• Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico
• Rep. Judy Chu of California
• Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut
• Rep. Ann McLane Kuster of New Hampshire
• Rep. Raul Ruiz of California

Contact McPherson at lindseymcpherson@rollcall.com and follow her on Twitter @lindsemcpherson.

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