Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today joined more than 35 colleagues in sending a letter urging Speaker Paul Ryan (WI-01) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) to provide critical funding to fight the opioid crisis in any continuing resolution (CR).

“Opioid abuse is tearing apart families across the country, including in Washington state,” DelBene said. “While passing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act was an important first step, Congress’s work is far from over. We cannot wait until December to dedicate the resources necessary to truly address this epidemic. Addiction is a disease, not a crime, and too many families are suffering.”

In July, President Obama signed into law the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which included a DelBene amendment scaling-up a successful Washington model to help individuals suffering from substance abuse. Her amendment allows state, local and tribal governments to implement community-based substance use diversion programs, such as King County’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), which have been shown to reduce recidivism by as much as 60 percent.

While CARA passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, it didn’t include dedicated funding to fully address the opioid crisis. Today’s letter from lawmakers urges House leaders to provide the much-needed funding in any CR passed to keep the government funded after Sept. 30.

Opioids kill 78 Americans every day. Since 2000, drug overdose deaths have increased by 137 percent.

Text of the bipartisan letter, led by Reps. Ann Kuster (NH-02) and Frank Guinta (NH-01), follows:

Dear Mr. Speaker and Madam Leader,

Heroin and prescription opioid misuse is devastating communities nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), currently more than 129 Americans die every day as a result of drug overdoses and the epidemic is worsening. This crisis is exacerbated by the increased use of a deadlier and more potent opioid known as fentanyl, which is driving the majority of fatal overdoses. At the same time, the lack of resources, treatment options, research funding, and drug education impedes efforts to resolve the crisis.

Earlier this year, Congress acted with overwhelming support to give law enforcement, healthcare providers, caregivers, and educators more resources to better do their jobs. Passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) shows Congress’ bipartisan commitment to resolve this epidemic by providing grants to communities to fight substance use disorder.

Additionally, the House Appropriations Committee reflected many of the advances developed in CARA that address needed heroin and opioid funding changes in several of the FY17 subcommittee bills reported out of Committee.  However, these funding adjustments will not be reflected in a continuing resolution, whether short or long-term, hamstringing our national response for Americans suffering and dying from heroin and opioid addiction. Congress’ inability to finish the appropriations process threatens to leave embattled communities without the funding and assistance they need to save lives.

Recognizing American lives hang in the balance, we request consideration for appropriation anomalies in negotiations of a continuing resolution that reflect the advances made in the FY17 subcommittee bills, which address opioid enforcement, prevention, treatment, research, and recovery efforts. Funding as appropriated in FY16 simply does not reflect the current intent of Congress or come close to addressing the life-saving needs of our communities.

Through the comprehensive and targeted approach reflected in the FY17 bills, which leverage evidence-based law enforcement initiatives, treatment, and support for recovery, we can reverse the skyrocketing number of heroin and prescription opioid overdoses and deaths. We hope you will prioritize this request and grant these life-saving anomalies to ensure timely and adequate help for our communities that daily suffer the burdens of prescription opioid and heroin abuse.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

###