Pappas Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown, Reiterates Call to Pass Full Appropriations Bill for FY 2022

On December 2, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) issued the following statement after voting for a Continuing Resolution to keep the United States government open and extending his bipartisan fentanyl scheduling legislation:

"Today I voted to keep our government open by supporting the continuing resolution," said Congressman Pappas. "While this resolution is necessary to ensure we fund vital services, pay federal workers, and prevent any possibility of a shutdown, we must prioritize passing a full appropriations bill for fiscal year 2022. Failing to find a bipartisan agreement will result in a de facto cut to many essential services including programs for veterans, law enforcement, and first responders. Congress cannot continue to delay this urgent work."

Background:

On January 12, 2022, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01 and Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16) led 36 of their colleagues in a bipartisan call for Congressional leadership to prioritize further Congressional action to stop fentanyl trafficking, permanently classify fentanyl analogues as a Schedule I substance, giving law enforcement and public health experts the tools they need to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.

On December 15, 2021, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led his colleagues in a letter to Congressional leadership, urging the passage of a full appropriations bill for fiscal year 2022 to prevent a de facto cut in resources for essential services and programs including funding for public safety, veterans, and COVID first responders.

In May 2021, President Biden signed into law legislation introduced by Pappas in April 2021 to extend the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) temporary order to keep fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to ensure law enforcement can keep them off the streets. This is a designation used for substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The continuing resolution passed in September 2021 extended this legislation through January 28, 2022.

Also in May 2021, Pappas introduced the bipartisan Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act alongside Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16) to help keep deadly synthetic drugs off the streets by placing fentanyl-related substances permanently on the Schedule I list.

In April 2021, Pappas introduced the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act alongside Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03) which would require the CDC, OSHA and other federal agencies to direct public awareness campaigns and training for first responders about the dangers of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

In November 2020, Pappas voted to pass H.R. 7990, the Fighting Emerging Narcotics Through Additional Nations to Yield Lasting Results Act, or FENTANYL Results Act, which would prioritize efforts of the Department of State to combat international trafficking via increased collaboration with the international community through shared anti-trafficking initiatives and capacity-building measures.

In November 2020, Pappas voted to pass H.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act Of 2020, which he co-sponsored. This legislation reauthorizes through FY2024 the State Opioid Response Grants program which is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The program works to address the opioid crisis by increasing access to medication-assisted treatment and supports evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery support services to address stimulant misuse and use disorders, including for cocaine and methamphetamine.

In June 2020, Pappas voted to pass H.R. 7617, the second annual appropriations package, which funded a range of critical national priorities, including the fight against the addiction epidemic in our communities. The legislation included an amendment introduced by Pappas to increase funding for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers.

Source