Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, released the following statement on reports that the Trump Administration intends to cut funding for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) by 95 percent. The ONDCP is critical to coordinating the federal response to the opioid epidemic that is negatively impacting communities throughout New Hampshire and the country. Kuster introduced an amendment to the FY 2018 appropriations bill, which was accepted that would increase funding for ONDCP by $6.902 million.

“Once again the Trump Administration is signaling its complete lack of understanding about how to address the opioid epidemic,” said Kuster. “The Office of National Drug Control Policy has been a critical ally of states and communities that are on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic working tirelessly to save lives. I’ve advocated for increased resources and adequate staffing for ONDCP because we need a comprehensive approach to take on the opioid epidemic and ONDCP is crucial to coordinating our response at all levels. These reported cuts are completely misguided and I urge the Trump Administration to abandon efforts to gut the ONDCP.”

Congresswoman Kuster is the co-founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, and has been at the forefront of the fight to address the heroin and opioid crisis at the federal level and in New Hampshire. She has been an outspoken advocate for the need to support medical, law enforcement, treatment, and recovery efforts.

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