Ayotte Votes to Advance Emergency Funding for Heroin Epidemic
Press Release
Today, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte voted to advance an amendment introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) which would have appropriated $600 million in emergency funding to help combat the prescription opioid and heroin abuse crisis in New Hampshire and across the nation. The measure was offered as an amendment to the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation Ayotte has led to help combat the opioid abuse epidemic. Ayotte is a co-sponsor of Shaheen's Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, a stand-alone bill that includes similar provisions to the amendment. The amendment failed on a procedural vote by a vote of 48 to 47.
"I cosponsored and voted to advance Senator Shaheen's amendment to provide emergency funding to address the opioid abuse epidemic, which is desperately needed in New Hampshire. While her measure unfortunately was not adopted, I remain committed to pursuing all options available to secure this funding. I also renew my call for the Department of Health and Human Services to expedite the release of funds that Congress has already appropriated so that New Hampshire and other states can quickly utilize federal dollars and grants to support local efforts to combat opioid abuse. Passing CARA will represent an important step forward in addressing the opioid abuse crisis and I urge the Senate to pass this legislation without delay."
In addition to supporting emergency funding, Ayotte also worked to include significant increased funding in the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations bill for programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration specifically related to combatting opioid abuse. Last fall, she also helped include $1.5 billion in increased funding for substance abuse and mental health programs in the budget reconciliation bill, which would have allowed the Health and Human Services Secretary to prioritize funding for states like New Hampshire that are experiencing especially urgent substance abuse and mental health needs.
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