**In letter to House Appropriators, Kuster and MacArthur advocated for robust NIH funding to address the opioid epidemic**

**Program made possible by influx of federal resources to tackle the opioid crisis**

Today, Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Tom MacArthur (NJ-03), the co-chairs of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, welcomed the announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., that the agency will be launching the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative. The HEAL Initiative will increase NIH research spending on the opioid epidemic to $1.1 billion and enhance research into alternative pain management and opioid addiction treatment solutions. In December 2017, Kuster and MacArthur hosted Dr. Collins as well as Dr. Nora Volkow, the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Dr. Walter Koroshetz, the Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) for a roundtable of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force to discuss the public-private partnership and the need for additional resources for the NIH. Earlier this year, Kuster and MacArthur joined a bipartisan group of members to call on House Appropriators to include robust funding for the NIH in the recently passed omnibus spending bill.

“Greater scientific understanding of the opioid epidemic will be critical to the long-term response to this crisis,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I’m thrilled that the NIH is investing in research that will not only improve how we treat individuals suffering from substance use disorder, but also explore alternative pain management techniques that will help slow the growth of the opioid crisis. As I often say to my colleagues, ‘heroin doesn’t choose Republicans or Democrats,’ and it’s clear from the bipartisan cooperation we’ve seen that this is an issue on which we’ll be able to make real progress. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advocate for policies that will support those on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic in New Hampshire and across the country.”

“It’s critical that we have scientific research on the opioid crisis so that we can better understand how to treat those who are suffering from substance abuse and prevent this epidemic from continuing to destroy lives and families,” said Congressman MacArthur.  “This crisis has touched so many families across our country and I’m grateful to see our bipartisan advocacy is making a difference.  There is still so much more that needs to be done and the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force will continue to work across the aisle and fight the opioid epidemic.”

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