Guinta's Good Samaritan Act Passes the House

WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives unanimously passed U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta’s bill to require a federal study of local laws that prevent first responders, including friends and family of overdose victims, from administering emergency treatment, such as Narcan, according to a press statement.

On May 10, 2016, the Good Samaritan Assessment Act of 2016 was approved, along with other measures, to address the nationwide heroin and opioid epidemic, especially bad in New Hampshire, where over 430 Granite Staters died of a heroin or related overdose last year.

“That number is already trending upwards this year,” said Guinta, R-NH, who co-founded the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, which includes more than 80 Republican and Democrat members of Congress.

Click to watch: Rep. Guinta speaking in favor of Good Samaritan Act

Last night, many spoke at a Leadership Special Order to underscore the growing problem in their districts.

“Police and firefighters, even civilians, who risk their health and safety to help Granite Staters at death’s door, deserve protection from out-of-date laws that punish them for acting quickly,” said Guinta. “My bill seeks to create Good Samaritan exceptions for those who act in an overdose victim’s best interest.”

The Congressman, Manchester’s former mayor, whose amendment to increase funding to long-term recovery programs is also expected to pass the House this week, emphasized there may be situations where the exception would not apply. “It’s a complicated issue that the Government Accountability Office must look into,” he said.

Guinta said that additional legislation this week would provide immediate help to Granite Staters suffering from heroin and opioid addiction. On the House schedule are bills to fund drug recovery courts, control opioid over-prescription, and improve treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome – infants suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

“Our efforts to improve the public response to an epidemic killing young and old, men and women, people across every demographic, will continue well beyond today,” he said. “We need to strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery programs, as well as cut off supply of deadly drugs.”

Submitted by Brendan Thomas of Guinta's Office.