Ayotte Welcomes New Plans to Battle Opioid Abuse Crisis

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte today welcomed the Department of Justice's announcement that the administration will direct new actions to help battle the heroin and prescription opioid abuse crisis. Ayotte has been leading efforts in the Senate to fight this epidemic, and helped co-author and introduce the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which was signed into law in July.

"I'm encouraged to see that the administration is placing a strong focus on battling this terrible crisis and is promoting measures that focus on anti-trafficking efforts, prevention, and treatment," said Senator Ayotte. "I've been fighting at every opportunity for new initiatives and increased funding for our federal response, and am pleased that the Senate appropriations bills for the last two years include a significant increase for programs that align well with those outlined in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, legislation I helped co-author and pushed to get signed into law. I will continue to fight for increased funding and urge states to take full advantage of the resources and federal funding currently available to pursue some of these initiatives so we can make sure we're using every tool we have to turn the tide of addiction and help save lives."

Senator Ayotte has asked appropriators for, and voted in support of, increases in funding through the regular appropriations process for the evidence-based initiatives called for under CARA. She also supported emergency and supplemental funding for opioid programs, and sent a letter last week to appropriators urging them to fully fund CARA in the continuing resolution and reiterating her support for additional emergency funding. Ayotte also supports a measure from Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) that would add $600 million additional emergency funding on top of the normal appropriations process.

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