Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force, applauded the passage of 36 opioid bills in the House of Representatives. Kuster was a co-sponsor of seven pieces of legislation that passed this week including the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act, the Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act, Jessie’s Law, the Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act, and the Special Registration for Telemedicine Clarification Act. Additionally, two pieces of legislation on the Task Force’s legislative agenda cosponsored by Kuster were passed, the Synthetic Drug Awareness Act and the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act. Earlier this year, the Task Force released its legislative agenda, which includes  commonsense, bipartisan legislation to address the opioid epidemic by supporting prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts. Kuster’s legislation from the agenda, the VA Prescription Data Accountability Act, has already been signed into law, as well as the INTERDICT Act, which Kuster co-sponsored.

“The opioid epidemic doesn’t discriminate and is impacting families and communities across New Hampshire and the entire country,” said Kuster. “I’ve focused on bringing together Republicans and Democrats to recognize the importance of a comprehensive response to this crisis that expands prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery as well as law enforcement and interdiction. Our Task Force has helped educate Members of Congress about the nuances of the opioid epidemic and the needs of those on the frontlines. I’m encouraged that this week we’ve advanced numerous proposals that will bolster our response and help to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic.”

Earlier this year, Kuster introduced the Respond NOW Act, which would provide critical resources to those on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic. Last month, Kuster hosted Nashua, New Hampshire’s Fire Chief Brian Rhodes in Washington to discuss the Safe Stations program with the Task Force. The Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid 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 advance $6 billion in new opioid funding as part of the FY 2018 government funding bill. Last Congress, 14 Task Force bills were signed into law as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).

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