Members from Areas Hard Hit by Drug Crisis Introduce Bill to Provide More Than $1 Billion to Combat Epidemic

Press Release

Members from communities that have been hardest hit by the growing opioid crisis joined together today to introduce legislation calling for more than $1 billion in funding to combat the epidemic. Led by Representatives Ben Ray Luján (NM-3), Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Joe Kennedy III (MA-4), Derek Kilmer (WA-6), and Anne McLane Kuster (NH-2), the Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act has the support of 90 House Democrats and reflects President Obama's budget request for much-needed resources to increase treatment programs that will help address the drug crisis.

In 2014, 47,055 people died from drug overdose, with opioid overdose accounting for 28,000 deaths, an increase of 200 percent since 2000. With 78 people dying from overdoses of heroin and prescription opioids per day--and deaths from the opioid epidemic surpassing the number of Americans killed in motor vehicle accidents each year--more resources are needed for prevention, treatment, and recovery.

"The drug crisis is tearing apart the fabric of communities in New Mexico and across the country," Congressman Ben Ray Luján said. "While there are many dedicated individuals who are working as hard as they can to help our friends and neighbors who are struggling with drug abuse, it is painfully clear that the only way we can make significant progress is by putting in the resources that will make treatment and prevention more accessible and affordable. Right now, too many people who want help and need help simply cannot get it. This legislation, with a commitment to provide robust funding, represents a much-needed step forward that will save lives."

"Growing up in Baltimore, I saw the destructive nature of opioid and heroin addiction, which destroys lives and tears apart families and communities. We can no longer afford to ignore this public health and safety crisis," Congressman Elijah E. Cummings said. "While I fully support the package of opioid bills moving through the House of Representatives as a first step, it will take actual funding to attack this crisis--funding that these bills unfortunately do not provide. The bill we introduced today will give our partners on the frontlines the funding they need to fight this epidemic by supporting treatment and recovery, as well as programs to monitor and disrupt the flow of opioids into our communities."

"When I worked for nonprofit agencies committed to addressing substance abuse, I saw how addiction devastates families," said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. "If America is serious about fighting the opioid crisis, if American families are serious about saving the lives of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones, then we must make the necessary robust investments in effective treatment and prevention measures. That is exactly what our bill seeks to do."

"Every single day, an average of three families in Massachusetts lose a father, mother, brother, sister or child to addiction," said Congressman Joe Kennedy III. "Without providing the necessary funding, our response to the opioid crisis gripping communities across our country is a half-step at best. While I am encouraged by the bipartisan support for the bills passed in the House this week, any serious policies and programs need real resources behind them to be effective. I'm hopeful both sides of the aisle in both chambers of Congress can come together in the coming weeks to fully address an increasingly urgent crisis."

"Wherever you live too many folks have felt the impact of heroin and opioid abuse," Congressman Derek Kilmer said. "This scourge has led to overcrowded jails, overwhelmed medical professionals and emergency responders, and families who simply want to do more to help their loved ones. I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing a bill that invests in programs and professionals that are on the ground helping those struggling with addiction and working to provide lifesaving care."

"Across the Granite State and around the nation, far too many Americans struggling with addiction are unable to find necessary treatment options. Our law enforcement officials do not have the resources they need to fight this epidemic and get these drugs off our streets, and community stakeholders and advocates working to tackle this epidemic need our support to get their jobs done. That's why I'm proud to support this bill, which will provide over $1 billion dollars to fight the opioid epidemic. We cannot wait to fund these efforts; far too many lives across the nation depend on it," said Congresswoman Annie Kuster, who is the co-founder of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic.

Earlier this year, President Obama called for action to address this crisis and the need for more resources. The comprehensive Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act reflects the President's plan, which calls for $1.16 billion to combat the roots of the current epidemic by providing:

$930 million to support cooperative agreements with States to expand access to medication-assisted treatmentfor opioid use disorders;
$50 million to expand access to substance use treatment providers;
$12.5 million for DEA heroin enforcement;
Studies of real-world medication-assisted treatment;
Advancing safe opioid prescribing guidelines;
Enhancement ofprescription drug monitoring programs;and
Treatment for prisoners, Second Chance Act grant program funding, and residential substance abuse treatment programs.

The full text of the bill is available here. In addition to the lead sponsors, the bill is cosponsored by: Pete Aguilar, Karen Bass, Don Beyer, Earl Blumenauer, Brendan Boyle, Corrine Brown, Julia Brownley, G.K. Butterfield, Lois Capps, Michael Capuano, Tony Cárdenas, Katherine Clark, Yvette Clarke, William Lacy Clay, Steve Cohen, Gerald Connolly, John Conyers, Joe Courtney, Danny Davis, Peter DeFazio, John Delaney, Rosa DeLauro, Debbie Dingell, Tammy Duckworth, Donna Edwards, Anna Eshoo, Elizabeth Esty, Marcia Fudge, Ruben Gallego, Alan Grayson, Al Green, Gene Green, Luis Gutiérrez, Alcee Hastings, Denny Heck, Michael Honda, Steve Israel, Sheila Jackson Lee, Hakeem Jeffries, Henry "Hank" Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, William Keating, Dan Kildee, Ron Kind, Rick Larsen, John Larson, Brenda Lawrence, Barbara Lee, Sander Levin, John Lewis, Ted Lieu, Dave Loebsack, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Stephen Lynch, Sean Patrick Maloney, Doris Matsui, Betty McCollum, James McGovern, Gregory Meeks, Seth Moulton, Grace Napolitano, Richard Neal, Donald Norcross, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Bill Pascrell, Stacey Plaskett, Mike Quigley, Cedric Richmond, Raul Ruiz, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Tim Ryan, Loretta Sanchez, John Sarbanes, Albio Sires, Jackie Speier, Eric Swalwell, Bennie Thompson, Dina Titus, Paul Tonko, Niki Tsongas, Chris Van Hollen, Juan Vargas, Peter Welch, John Yarmuth.