Reps. Trone, Armstrong, Sherrill, and Riggleman Announce Bill to Authorize $5 Billion for State Opioid Response Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hannah Muldavin, Hannah.Muldavin@mail.house.gov
Reps. Trone, Armstrong, Sherrill, and Riggleman Announce Bill to Authorize $5 Billion for State Opioid Response Grants
Bill is first effort of many from members of the bipartisan Freshmen Working Group on Addiction
Washington, D.C – Today, Representative David Trone (D-MD), along with Reps. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), and Denver Riggleman (R-VA) announced a bill that would provide $5 billion in funding over five years to fight the opioid epidemic in every community across the country.
The bill would authorize for five years the State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Grants, which have only been funded for two years by Congress starting in 2018. These important programs provide funding to states to reduce overdose related deaths through prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. Each state receives not less than $4 million through the program, with additional funding provided to the ten states with the highest mortality rates due to drug overdoses.
This is the first bill of many from members of the bipartisan Freshmen Working Group on Addiction, the largest working group in the freshman class dedicated to bringing fresh eyes to the addiction crisis. The group consists of 55 members of the freshman class from 30 states across the country.
“This crisis affects each and every community across America, and we have to ensure that each state has the resources necessary to combat this tragedy,” said Congressman David Trone (D-MD). “In my first 100 days in office I spoke with health departments, hospitals, first responders, elected officials, police officers, incarcerated individuals, mental health professionals, early childhood organizations, and those suffering from addiction. I heard loud and clear that we need additional and consistent funding to end this crisis. This legislation does just that. I thank Representatives Armstrong, Sherrill, and Riggleman for joining me in this bipartisan effort.”
“The opioid crisis continues to ravage communities all across the country. It does not discriminate by age, race or socio-economic status,” said Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). “We need to provide a stable and certain funding source so that our state, local and tribal governments can continue to develop the resources they so desperately need to combat this crisis. I’m excited to join congressmen and women on both sides of the aisle to authorize this funding.”
“New Jersey lost more than 3,000 individuals to overdoses in 2018. I’ve spoken to advocates, patients, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement officers in our community, and the lack of resources constantly comes up as a roadblock to progress in combating the opioid epidemic,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ). “Extending the State Opioid Response Grant program will give New Jersey and states across the country resources to address the opioid epidemic over the long term. The Freshmen Working Group on Addiction is committed to bipartisan solutions to address the addiction crisis, and I’m proud to work with Representatives Trone, Armstrong, and Riggleman to lead this effort.”
”When we started the Freshman Working Group on Addiction, we pledged to generate new ideas and make progress. Communities are struggling with too many challenges and not enough resources and we need to act,” said Congressman Denver Riggleman (R-VA). This bill starts to address some of those challenges, and is the first of many the Working Group will produce. It is a positive step towards combating the very real crisis of opioid addiction that has had devastating consequences for families across the nation.”
“Federal support is vital to our administration’s ongoing efforts in fighting the heroin and opioid crisis in Maryland,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “We are combating this crisis with a balanced approach of education, prevention, enforcement, treatment and recovery services – all of which will be supported by these State Opioid Response Grants ensuring an extra level of funding certainty for the future.”
“This bill will be critical to our opioid crisis response efforts in Cumberland,” said Cumberland Mayor Raymond Morriss. “With these funds, we will be able to continue funding important programs and providing better support for those affected by the opioid epidemic in Cumberland.”
“In addition to the emotional and personal toll the opioid epidemic has taken on the people of Maryland, it has caused a large financial strain on municipalities and cities across the State,” said Hagerstown City Councilwoman and founder of Washington Goes Purple Emily Keller. “Ensuring funding for the next several years will help lift this burden and allow for strategic and future planning to help our communities recover, educate and heal our way out of this epidemic.”
“In the battle against opioid addiction, this grant program provides people with help and hope,” said Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. “Because of the Opioid Response funds, more people in Frederick County have been able to get the support they need to live sober lives. I want to thank Congressman Trone for recognizing the need for this program.”
“These grants are critical and will help ensure the success of recovery efforts across the country,” said Judge Nelson Rupp, founder of the Adult Drug Court in Montgomery County, Maryland. “As someone who has seen the cycle of addiction firsthand in the courtroom for over twenty-five years, I know the importance of funding programs that provide holistic support for those suffering from addiction.”
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Education and Labor, Foreign Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees, where he is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the opioid epidemic, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
To read more about the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, click here.
To watch a replay of the press conference, click here.
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