Duckworth's Vote Helps Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Fight Opioid Epidemic

Press Release

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) today voted in support of a package of legislative proposals designed to help fight the opioid and heroin epidemic that takes the lives of 46 Americans each day. The legislation, which passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, establishes and improves a series of protections and protocols to help state, local and tribal governments fight the opioid crisis in their communities and expand access to drugs like naloxone, which helped keep 34 overdosing Eighth District residents alive in 2014 alone. Congresswoman Duckworth remains committed to ensuring these policies--none of which were funded under today's legislation--and recently cosponsored legislation to provide $600 million in appropriations to ensure these unfunded policies have the resources they need to be successful.

"I'm glad the House was able to come together in a bipartisan fashion to pass these reforms," said Congresswoman Duckworth."But we need a comprehensive, fully funded response to this devastating crisis. Our communities have been suffering and we have lost far too many Americans to this epidemic already. These reforms will help provide treatment for those struggling with opioid dependency, while also updating our best practices to help prevent future abuse."

Congresswoman Duckworth is a cosponsor of the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE (Promoting Responsible Opioid Management and Incorporating Scientific Expertise) Act, which passed as part of today's package. The Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act, named after a Marine Corporal who died in a VA hospital of an opioid overdose after having been prescribed 13 different medications, would direct the VA and DoD to update and improve their prescription guidelines, examine the treatment programs in place for Veterans who are at high risk of developing opioid dependency and expand the VA's Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) to all VA medical facilities.

The legislation that passed the House earlier today also includes initiatives to:

Create a transparent and accountable Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction grant program, though this program still needs to be funded,
Improve treatment for infants who are born suffering from drug dependency,
Create a grant program to establish programs for prescribing naloxone to patients at risk of drug overdoses, as well as help states increase access to this life-saving overdose reversal drug, though both of these provisions still need to be funded as well, and
Provide information and resources regarding the dangers of opioid abuse and alternate treatment options to young athletes and their families.
Congresswoman Duckworth has consistently worked to address the national opioid and heroin epidemic and to make sure Congress responds meaningfully and effectively. In addition to calling for swift action to fund today's proposals, she recently joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) in urging the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to help provide a safe place to dispose of leftover medications.

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