Today, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive opioid legislation backed by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force. H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, also includes Kuster’s legislation, the STOP Fentanyl Deaths Act. The STOP Fentanyl Deaths Act would create grant funding to assist states and municipalities in identifying fentanyl in both fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses. The provision would also create a pilot program allowing states to develop unique “point of use” drug testing programs.

The bipartisan measure also includes provisions advocated for by the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force in their legislative agenda to expand medicated assisted treatment (MAT), improve Medicaid support for opioid treatment, and bolster programs to address neonatal abstinence syndrome.

“Over the past two weeks the House of Representatives has worked across the aisle to pass dozens of pieces of legislation to bolster our response to the opioid epidemic and support those on the frontlines of this crisis,” said Kuster. “I’m proud that so many priorities of the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force have been included in this legislation and that our Task Force has helped bring together Republicans and Democrats to advance so many proposals. Synthetic opioids are having a devastating impact on communities in New Hampshire, and I’m encouraged that my bill, the STOP Fentanyl Deaths Act, was included in this comprehensive legislation. I will continue to focus on working across the aisle to advance real solutions for people in the Granite State and across the country.”

Kuster has pushed for increased funding for New Hampshire to address the opioid epidemic and this month helped announce $22.9 million in additional funding for the state. Earlier this year, Kuster introduced the Respond NOW Act, which would provide critical resources to those on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic. 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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