**Following their virtual conversation, the Task Force hosted a press conference with Captain Lee to discuss the 2021 Legislative Agenda and the need to pass this bipartisan legislative plan**

Washington, D.C. — Today, following a Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force virtual conversation, co-chair Representative Annie Kuster (D-NH) was joined by Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL), Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), as well as Captain Lee Rosbach, star of Bravo's Below Deck, and Harry Cunnane, Regional Vice President of Caron Treatment Centers and son of Rep. Dean to discuss the personal cost of addiction and the importance of congressional action to combat the substance use epidemic. Last month, the Task Force released its 2021 Legislative Agenda, a comprehensive approach to address the dual addiction and mental health public health crises that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Kuster and Rep. Rutherford were joined for the virtual conversation by:

• Captain Lee Rosbach, star of Bravo's Below Deck, who lost his son to an overdose two years ago. Since then, Captain Lee has been a strong advocate for increased awareness and action to address the addiction epidemic.
• Admiral Sandy Winnefeld, founder of the SAFE Project, a national nonprofit working through a collaborative, multi-pronged, and non-partisan approach to end the nation's catastrophic addiction epidemic.
• Harry Cunnane, Regional Vice President of Caron Treatment Centers and co-author of “Under Our Roof: A Son's Battle for Recovery, a Mother's Battle for Her Son,” son of Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA).

“I want to thank my Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force colleagues, as well as Captain Lee and Harry Cunnane, for highlighting the personal impact of addiction and the urgent need to pass comprehensive legislation to address this epidemic,” said Rep. Kuster, founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. “Today’s conversation made clear: Congress must take action to support those struggling with substance use. I’m proud to be leading that charge, and look forward to pushing our 2021 Legislative Agenda over the finish line in the coming months.”

“We’re not here today to talk about numbers. We’re here to talk about people,” said Rep. Rutherford. “I thank the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force for amplifying the stories of those personally affected by the opioid crisis, which continues to rage in communities throughout America.”

“I know first-hand the damage substance use disorder can do to a family,” Rep. Dean said. “Addiction plagues every community — we must be tireless in our work to treat this illness. Discussions like the one today with Captain Lee, my colleagues, my son, and others in long term recovery will help end addiction stigma, advance legislation, and save lives.”

“I’m extremely humbled to be here, grateful for the opportunity, and hopeful we can save even one life with our work together,” said Captain Lee Rosbach.

The full press conference following the virtual conversation is available HERE.

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The Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force merges Rep. Trone’s Freshmen Working Group on Addiction and the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force, which was co-chaired by Reps. Kuster and Fitzpatrick in the 116th Congress and founded by Rep. Kuster in 2015. The purpose of the new Task Force is to build on those efforts to make the most progress possible on addiction and mental health in the 117th Congress.

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