**Kuster's full remarks are available here**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster’s (NH-02) bipartisan legislation to combat the addiction and mental health epidemic and reauthorize the SUPPORT Act of 2018 cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee with broad, bipartisan support, sending the bill to the House Floor. A dedicated advocate for a robust federal response to the mental health and substance use disorder crises, Kuster has long championed the need for an expansive all-of-government response to combat the twin epidemics. Brett Guthrie (KY-02) is the Republican co-lead on the bill.

“Every life lost to substance use disorder is a tragedy – we have taken great strides to address this epidemic, but more work remains to help save lives,” said Kuster. “I am proud to lead the SUPPORT Act, a bipartisan opportunity for Congress to direct critical resources to the communities struggling most across the country. I look forward to the full House considering this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote yes to deliver relief for communities in New Hampshire and across the country.” 

Kuster has played a leading role in Congress’ response to the mental health and opioid epidemics. As the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, which originally began in 2015, she has spearheaded the congressional response to the opioid crisis to save lives and expand access to critical resources and treatment. The SUPPORT Act advances this important work and includes provisions to:

• Expand access to treatment and recovery programs, community-based supports, and overdose reversal agents;
• Direct resources to monitor infections associated with drug use, prescription drug diversion, laboratory detection tools, reporting on trauma, and remote monitoring tools;
• Invest in the mental health and substance use disorder workforce; 
• Support recovery community organizations, peer-run recovery support, comprehensive opioid recovery centers, medication-assisted treatment, as well as treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women, training for first responders, and persons who experience violence-related stress;
• Support research and response to the growing dangers of fentanyl and xylazine; 
• Dedicate resources to key public health programs to respond to the crisis; and
• Reauthorize the SUPPORT Act of 2018, which Kuster helped pass into law.

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