September 2, 2023

Dear Friends,

Last year, we lost 109,680 of our loved ones, friends, and neighbors to the disease of addiction. This crisis has ripped through the nation, leaving countless families broken and communities devastated.

For those lost and the millions currently suffering under this disease of despair, we must demand better. They deserve a response rooted in hope.

Fortunately, our Capital Region is home to numerous organizations, programs and advocates dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with this disease and delivering access to treatment. This week, I had the honor to visit several of these groups and learn more about their work to provide compassionate care to our district.

• On Monday, I toured New Choices Recovery Center in Schenectady, where their medical staff highlighted their out-patient Opioid Treatment Program, which offers medication-assisted treatments to patients.
  
  
• Later that day, I visited Camino Nuevo Clinic in Albany to learn about their methadone clinic and converse with the staff and patients about the critical role of these available services.
  
  
• On Thursday, on International Overdose Awareness Day, I stopped by Project Safe Point. Following a tour of their top-notch facilities, I received a Narcan training, then capped the visit with a discussion with staff about their harm reduction services.

I was deeply impressed by the stellar work taking place at these facilities and by the commitment of their staff to supporting their clients and setting them on the best path to recovery.

During my service as co-chair of the Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus and throughout my time in Congress, I’ve focused on knocking out every single barrier to addiction treatment. I’ve made it my mission to make certain that when an individual struggling with addiction reaches out for help, we have a medical system ready to welcome them with open arms, not one that forces providers to jump though special hoops just to treat their patients.

That’s a key reason why I championed the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, which last year was finally signed into law. This law finally eliminates the outdated barriers that prevent more people in need from having access to buprenorphine — a lifesaving drug for addiction treatment. By passing this law, we are vastly expanding access to addiction medicine and moving our nation toward a system of treatment on demand for those struggling with addiction.

I’m also working to make sure that those who interact with our criminal justice system have a clear path to recovery.

We know that many individuals in our nation’s jails and prisons are struggling with a substance use disorder, and many have co-occurring mental health conditions as well. Unfortunately, our current fragmented system of care causes many of these individuals to lose access to their health care benefits upon entering jail or prison — even if they are awaiting trial or have not even been charged with a crime.

We also know that these gaps in care can be deadly, as individuals leaving an incarceration setting are 129 times more likely to have a drug overdose in their first two weeks post-incarceration than the general public.

My bipartisan Reentry Act aims to close the treatment gap by allowing states to restart benefits for Medicaid-eligible incarcerated individuals up to 30 days prior to their release. By delivering a funding stream to more correctional settings to offer addiction services, this bill would improve quality of care and reduce recidivism: a win-win. That’s why this legislation has garnered the support of dozens of organizations, including addiction advocates, mental health groups, law enforcement, and more.

We know the human cost of inaction. Last year, it was precisely 109,680 lives we lost; and for each individual there is a universe of friends, family, and communities impacted.

The only way to confront a crisis of this magnitude is to respond with boldness and compassion. Working together in this fashion, I believe we can ensure that no more lives are senselessly lost to this devastating disease.

As always, thank you for reading.

Your friend,

DID YOU KNOW?

My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:

• Our office has received a number of inquiries regarding the United States Postal Service (USPS) Change of Address Verification.
• The USPS is enhancing security protocols surrounding its change of address (COA) service by implementing additional identity verification methods.
• These enhancements are designed to address global identity theft concerns, and to protect customers’ information.
  • A COA request can be submitted 90 days before the effective date of your move, and up to 30 days after the date of your move.
• The change of address service remains simple and convenient to use. It can be completed in a few steps, both online or in person at a local Post Office location.