October 1, 2022
Dear Friends,
Yesterday marked the end of this year’s National Recovery Month, an annual observance held to promote science-based treatment and recovery practices and to support the nation’s proud recovery community and the dedicated service providers who stand on the front lines of the battle against addiction every day.
I take great pride in working with and supporting the recovery community as they fight for better access to proven treatments and more services for those on the road to recovery. But with more than 107,000 Americans dying by overdose just last year, I know that our work to end this national epidemic is far from over.
I’m encouraged by recent actions by the Biden Administration to tackle the overdose crisis. Last week, the White House announced the distribution of more than $1.5 billion in federal grant funds to every state and territory to help address addiction by investing in life-saving programs and policies like increased access to proven treatments and expanded recovery support services, with $100 million directed specifically toward rural communities. The Administration also released new guidance to remove barriers to accessing lifesaving FDA-approved naloxone products, and announced efforts to deploy financial sanctions to disrupt the networks that bring fentanyl across our borders. These actions represent a significant step toward reducing overdose deaths, supporting people in recovery, and ensuring public health officials on the front lines have the resources they need.
On Wednesday, I joined Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, for a naloxone training hosted by the Bipartisan Addiction & Mental Health Task Force. I saw firsthand the lifesaving work our dedicated healthcare providers and first responders do every day, and, through their knowledge, learned how to effectively respond to an opioid overdose. If you’ve never received this training, I encourage you to find naloxone training near you so you can be ready for an emergency. It’s fast, simple, and safe, and it just might save someone’s life.
As the Biden Administration implements executive actions to respond to the overdose crisis, I’m continuing my work in Congress to advance legislation that addresses this epidemic head-on. Earlier this year, I fought successfully in the House to advance H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act. This package of legislation, which passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 402-20, included two bills I authored to improve access to treatment and recovery services across the nation:
The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, that eliminates the outdated bureaucratic requirement that healthcare providers secure a special waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine, a lifesaving addiction treatment that many Americans are currently blocked from accessing. When France took similar action to make buprenorphine more widely available, opioid overdose deaths declined by 79 percent over a four-year period.
The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act, that reauthorizes this critical block grant for an additional five years, thereby providing sustained investment in evidence-based programs that support individuals, families, and municipalities struggling with addiction.
It is critical that we continue to invest in the road to recovery while also cutting the red tape that prevents so many from getting the treatments they need. I urge the Senate to move swiftly to enact these lifesaving bills.
I’m also continuing the fight to pass my Medicaid Reentry Act, a bipartisan bill that would allow new flexibility for states to restart benefits for Medicaid-eligible incarcerated individuals up to 30 days prior to their release. This legislation, supported by numerous law enforcement, medical, and recovery advocacy organizations across the nation, will make it easier for states to provide addiction treatment and services for some of their most vulnerable citizens, easing the transition to community care and reducing the risk of post-release overdoses.
As my push to combat the disease of addiction continues, I draw hope from the unceasing dedication of those in our community working to support friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. I’m confident that, united in determination and guided by compassion, we will face down this crisis and deliver lifesaving care to those who need it most.
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:
After Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida and other Southeastern states this week, I want to make sure you and your loved ones stay safe and secure.
If you’re in the affected area or have loved ones or property impacted by the storm, resources are available to help.
The House Committee on Small Business has prepared a Disaster Assistance Overview to connect you to resources from numerous government agencies.
This document contains links to important resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and more.
More information on assistance from FEMA can also be found at disasterassistance.gov
You can also download FEMA’s free updated mobile app on iOS or Android to help you stay informed, access disaster toolkits, and take charge in the event of an emergency.
