To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes.

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Bill ID: 119/hr/2351
Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. McDowell, Addison [R-NC-6]

ID: M001240

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

June 10, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce and uncover the real motivations behind HR 2351.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill claims to update the Coast Guard's policy on using medication to treat drug overdoses, specifically naloxone for opioid overdoses. How noble. But don't be fooled – this is just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:**

* The Commandant of the Coast Guard must update the policy within a year (because urgency is key when it comes to bureaucratic red tape). * Naloxone or similar medication must be available at all Coast Guard installations and operational environments (a token gesture, considering the scope of the opioid crisis). * The Coast Guard must participate in a tracking system for substance abuse (because data collection is always a great way to pretend you're doing something meaningful).

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:**

* The Coast Guard (forced to implement this half-hearted policy) * Pharmaceutical companies (who will likely see increased sales of naloxone and other medications) * Lobbyists (who probably wrote this bill in the first place)

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "legislative placebo effect." It creates the illusion of action while doing little to address the root causes of substance abuse. The real impact will be:

* Increased profits for pharmaceutical companies * A minor, temporary reduction in opioid-related deaths (before the problem inevitably worsens) * More bureaucratic red tape and paperwork for the Coast Guard

In short, HR 2351 is a cynical attempt to appear proactive while doing nothing meaningful to combat the opioid crisis. It's a symptom of a deeper disease: politicians' addiction to empty gestures and their willingness to prioritize corporate interests over human lives.

Diagnosis: Legislative Theater-itis – a chronic condition characterized by grandstanding, bureaucratic inefficiency, and a complete disregard for the well-being of citizens. Treatment: a healthy dose of skepticism, followed by a strong prescription of actual policy changes that address the root causes of social problems.

Related Topics

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Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. McDowell, Addison [R-NC-6]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$79,355
25 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$250
Committees
$0
Individuals
$79,105

No PAC contributions found

1
CENTER FOR FREETHOUGHT EQUALITY
1 transaction
$250

No committee contributions found

1
FLOW, MEGHAN
2 transactions
$13,200
2
KING, SEBASTIAN
2 transactions
$6,735
3
JOHNSON, BRIAN
2 transactions
$6,600
4
BROWN, THOMAS
1 transaction
$3,300
5
TOWNSEND, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
6
BRAUER, CAMILLA
1 transaction
$3,300
7
BRAUER, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$3,300
8
SHAHEEN, LAWRENCE
1 transaction
$3,300
9
CANNON, CRAIG
1 transaction
$3,300
10
CANNON, KATHLEEN E
1 transaction
$3,300
11
COBLE, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,300
12
CRAIG, MARK R
1 transaction
$3,300
13
DUNBAR, CHRISTOPHER
1 transaction
$3,300
14
FETZER, TOM
1 transaction
$3,300
15
KOTIS, MARTY
1 transaction
$3,300
16
POWERS, SHREITA
1 transaction
$3,300
17
RABON, SUZANNE M
1 transaction
$3,300
18
ALHILALI, RUTH
3 transactions
$2,500
19
FOREMAN, NANCY
1 transaction
$2,000
20
MARTIN, MARGARET
1 transaction
$500
21
POZMANTIER, IRVING
1 transaction
$500
22
MCKEE, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$320
23
FLEMING, DELRYN
1 transaction
$300
24
AYYAPPAN, DURAISWAMY
1 transaction
$250

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Goldman, Craig [R-TX-12]

ID: G000601

Top Contributors

10

1
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
May 19, 2023
2
ALLEN BOONE HUMPHRIES ROBINSON LLP
Organization HOUSTON, TX
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
3
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
May 23, 2024
4
GOLDSTEIN, DARIN
SDG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT MANAGER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
May 31, 2023
5
GOLDSTEIN, DARIN
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jun 19, 2023
6
SCHWARTZ, DAVID
SLATE PROPERTY GROUP EXECUTIVE
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Oct 17, 2023
7
SCHWARTZ, DAVID
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Oct 26, 2023
8
ADAMS, RICHARD
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Oct 26, 2024
9
ANDREESSEN, MARC
SELF ATTORNEY
Individual LOS ALTOS, CA
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
10
BARTH, RICHARD
MARYLAND PROFESSOR
Individual BALTIMORE, MD
$3,300
Oct 27, 2024

Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]

ID: G000602

Top Contributors

10

1
RALLYE MOTORS
Organization ROSLYN, NY
$6,000
Jul 18, 2023
2
RALLYE MOTORS
Organization ROSLYN, NY
$6,000
Jun 5, 2023
3
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$1,000
Aug 1, 2024
4
STONE, JAMES M
PLYMOUTH ROCK COMPANY, INC. EXECUTIVE
Individual BOSTON, MA
$5,000
Oct 16, 2024
5
FAIVUS, HARRY E
SELF-EMPLOYED OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Nov 1, 2024
6
STONE, JAMES M
PLYMOUTH ROCK COMPANY, INC. EXECUTIVE
Individual BOSTON, MA
$5,000
Oct 16, 2024
7
HELFER, RICKI
N/A NOT EMPLOYED
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$4,000
Sep 10, 2024
8
ANDEER, KYLE
APPLE INC ATTORNEY
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Mar 27, 2024
9
BINDER, CHARLES
SELF-EMPLOYED ATTORNEY
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Mar 21, 2024
10
BURNSTEIN, CLIFFORD
Q PRIME MANAGER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Mar 28, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. McDowell, Addison [R-NC-6]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 33 nodes and 36 connections

Total contributions: $100,455

Top Donors - Rep. McDowell, Addison [R-NC-6]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

1 Org24 Individuals