Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, released the following statement on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showing that New Hampshire has the third highest overdose death rate in the country.

“This report is deeply troubling and underscores the need for additional action and resources to take on the opioid epidemic,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Congress should immediately appropriate emergency funding to get those on the frontlines of this crisis the critical resources they need. Additionally, we should act on my bipartisan legislation to ensure that states hardest hit by the opioid epidemic receive funding through the 21^st Century Cures Act that reflects the severity of the opioid crisis. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to expand access to treatment and recovery services and support our law enforcement and first responders.”

In October, Kuster and the leaders of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force wrote to President Trump urging additional action on the opioid epidemic. In the letter the Members wrote, “We urge you to work with Congress in a bipartisan fashion to advance emergency supplemental funding as well as legislative proposals similar to those proposed in our legislative agenda and your own Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis findings.”

Kuster recently introduced the Federal Opioid Response Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation with her colleague Congressman Evan Jenkins (R-WV) to ensure that the states most affected by the opioid crisis receive appropriate resources under the 21st Century Cures Act.

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