Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, today is calling for bipartisan cooperation to advance funding to support efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. A Senate budget deal, expected to pass the Senate today, includes $6 billion in funding for the opioid crisis over two years. Kuster has led efforts by more than 100 members of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force in calling for funding to address the opioid epidemic. Last month, the Task Force wrote to President Trump and called on him to work with Congress to appropriate funding. Last week, Kuster urged House Leadership and Appropriators to replenish the public health emergency fund and provide supplemental opioid funding so that resources can be directed to those on the front lines of the opioid epidemic.

“The opioid epidemic is not a partisan issue,” said Kuster. “Families and communities in every district across the country have been impacted and those on the frontlines need additional resources to tackle the crisis. I’ve been calling on Republicans and Democrats to put politics aside and get this important work done for the American people. The legislation announced in the Senate provides an opportunity to advance critical funding to take on the opioid epidemic. I’ll continue to bring together members from both parties on the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force to advocate for expanded prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts as well as support for law enforcement and interdiction operations.”

Earlier this week, Kuster introduced the Respond NOW Act, which would provide critical resources to those on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic. The Bipartisan Heroin Task Force has been a driver of Congressional action to take on the opioid crisis. The Task Force successfully pushed for the inclusion of $1 billion in funding as part of the 21st Century Cures Act to address the opioid epidemic and helped pass 14 bills which were signed into law as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). Last month, the Task Force unveiled its legislative agenda for 2018. Two pieces of legislation on the agenda, the VA Prescription Data Accountability Act and the INTERDICT Act, have already been signed into law.

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