Shaheen Statement After Senate Sends Government Funding Bill to President's Desk With Increased Funding for Opioid Response Efforts Across the Country

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the lead Democrat on the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement after bipartisan government funding legislation passed the Senate that contains additional federal resources to fight the opioid epidemic. Overall, this legislation provides an increase of $735.5 million in prevention, treatment and recovery resources, including an increase of $35.5 million for Department of Justice programs over the previous year. This legislation now heads to the President’s desk for signature.

“More help is on the way for those on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic,” said Shaheen. “This funding can’t come soon enough to states like New Hampshire that are reeling from the opioid epidemic. Treatment providers and first responders are in desperate need of these additional resources and until we get control of this crisis, I'll continue to fight for funding to support their life-saving efforts. I’m relieved that Congress continues to build on bipartisan progress made over the last year to address this epidemic. However, I continue to be very concerned that efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act will undo this progress. As our state battles one of the worst public health crises in its history, we cannot afford to lose the mental health and substance misuse treatment provided through this law, which is why I intend to work across the aisle to stop this repeal effort in its tracks in the Senate.”

“In addition to a substantial increase in resources to respond to the opioid epidemic, this government funding bill also funds key programs that are important to New Hampshire, such as low-income heating assistance and the Northern Border Regional Commission. I’ll continue to work across the aisle on the Appropriations Committee to resist the Trump administration’s efforts to drastically cut programs that contribute to the health and wellbeing of Granite Staters.”