Press Releases

This morning, the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, led by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Congressman Frank Guinta (NH-01), held a press conference where they announced a package of 15 bipartisan bills to address and help ultimately solve the heroin epidemic.  In addition to Reps. Kuster and Guinta, 14 Members of Congress, including seven Republicans and seven Democrats, joined the press conference to emphasize the importance of passing this agenda. 

“All across the country, families are losing loved ones to this devastating epidemic. We cannot stand idly by and let this happen. That’s why I was proud to found the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, and that’s why I’m particularly proud that our members – from both sides of the aisle – were able to join together to release today’s legislative package,” said Congresswoman Annie Kuster. “There’s no silver bullet for solving this issue, which is why our legislative package takes a multi-faceted approach to meeting this challenge head on – through increased access to treatment, more support and training for our law enforcement officials, pain management training for our medical practitioners, and of course, funding. Working together across these areas, we can put an end to this epidemic and help struggling families across the country. I urge my colleagues in Congress to fully support our package and pass it quickly through the House.”

The bills announced today as part of the package take a number of steps to address the heroin crisis, including measures to:

• Reform opioid prescription practices
• Improve access to treatment
• Update Department of Veterans Affairs pain treatment procedures
• Increase access to anti-overdose medications
• Encourage proper disposal of unused prescriptions
• Promote alternatives to incarceration for low-level drug offenders
• Strengthen law enforcement at high-intensity drug trafficking areas

Additional information about the full legislative package can be found here.

“Formed just last year, the Task Force now counts over 70 Republican and Democratic members from across the country,  representing districts on the front lines of this epidemic. The fifteen bills we announced today are the result of careful consideration and cooperation among bipartisan partners. We believe these bills, or versions of them, have a good chance of making it to the House Floor, receiving positive votes, and helping our communities to strike back at heroin. We’re urging the relevant committees and House Leadership to quickly move them,” said Congressman Frank Guinta. 

Congresswoman Kuster has been leading the charge in Congress on fighting the heroin epidemic.  The co-founder of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, she has introduced numerous bills to address the opioid crisis, including legislation that is part of today’s package.  One of the leading advocates for the funding of CARA and other measures to fight the crisis, Kuster recently led a bipartisan letter signed by 60 Members of Congress to the House Appropriations Committee in support of strong funding.  Back in the Second District of New Hampshire, Kuster works to bring together experts from federal agencies to coordinate efforts to fight the epidemic. She has attended ride-alongs with law enforcement officials in Nashua, Keene, and Franklin, providing her with a direct look at the challenges facing local police departments and the communities they serve, and she continues to hold a series of regional briefings around the district to ensure the voices of local stakeholders and affected community members are heard. These experiences help Kuster continue to push her fellow Members of Congress and the White House to support important measures to bring an end to opioid abuse in New Hampshire.

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