Ayotte Fights to Include Funding for Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in Government Spending Bill

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte today praised the inclusion of funding for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) in the Continuing Resolution to fund the government through December 9. Senator Ayotte co-authored and helped introduce CARA in 2014 and again in 2015, and has consistently called on appropriators to provide full funding for the programs CARA authorizes. Earlier this month, she urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund CARA in the Continuing Resolution.

"For individuals struggling with substance use disorders and their families, health care and treatment providers, first responders and law enforcement, the recovery community, and people all across New Hampshire affected by this terrible epidemic, today's news represents a positive step forward. While the full government appropriations bill is still being developed for next year, I am pleased today's short-term bill includes an important investment towards fully funding CARA, building upon the omnibus spending bill enacted last December which increased federal opioid funding by 46%," said Senator Ayotte. "CARA's focus on prevention, treatment, recovery, and support for our first responders represents a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to battling the heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid abuse crisis. I won't give up the fight to fully fund this important legislation."

Senator Ayotte is a co-author of CARA, which was signed into law in July 2016. Additionally, Ayotte has asked appropriators for, and voted in support of, significant increases in funding through the regular appropriations process for the evidence-based initiatives called for under CARA. Last December, $320 million for this year (FY 2016) was enacted to specifically address the opioid epidemic, a 46% increase over FY 2015 levels. This current funding is being disbursed to states. The FY 2017 full year appropriations bills, as reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee, contain $469 million to address the opioid epidemic - $249 million more than, or 113% above, FY2015 levels. These funding increases were based on requests from Ayotte and others to start guiding appropriations based on CARA.

She also supported emergency and supplemental funding for opioid abuse programs, and sent a letter at the beginning of September 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.

Source