SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON THE LACK OF OPIOID FUNDING IN THE STOP-GAP GOVERNMENT FUNDING MEASURE INTRODUCED BY REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
**SHAHEEN: “Communities in New Hampshire and across the country desperately need funding to address this epidemic--not smoke and mirrors.” **
(Washington, DC)—This afternoon after reviewing a proposal by Republican leadership to keep the government funded until December 9th, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement to rebut claims that this bill funds the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).
“Communities in New Hampshire and across the country desperately need resources to address this epidemic -- not smoke and mirrors,” said Shaheen. “Despite the urgent pleas of first responders and treatment providers, this bill provides virtually no new funding to address this epidemic and instead, plays an elaborate shell game with the federal budget. Congress must take this epidemic seriously and pass an emergency funding bill that meets the enormous on-going threat that this epidemic poses to our communities.”
Shaheen has continued to lead the effort in Congress to pass emergency supplemental funding for those on the frontlines of the opioid addiction crisis. Her legislation would provide supplemental appropriations totaling $600 million to programs at the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services that focus on treatment and recovery, as well as state and local law enforcement initiatives.
This morning, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered remarks on the Senate floor to mark Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week and urged the Republican-led Congress to pass needed emergency funding to address the opioid crisis. In her remarks, Senator Shaheen called on Congress to fund CARA, which became law in July.
