Passing Senate’s Bipartisan Bill will be ‘Big Step’ in Combating Opioid Epidemic

‘The bipartisan collaboration we’ve seen thus far shows what we can achieve on behalf of the American people when we work together toward important, shared priorities.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the bipartisanComprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA):

“The Senate will soon have a chance to come together in support of theComprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, a bill designed to help address the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic that’s hurting our country.

“We’ve seen the impact this crisis is having in all 50 states—how it’s affecting people of all different ages and backgrounds. We know that heroin and prescription opioid addiction devastates communities, destroys families, and claims thousands of lives each year. But we also know there are steps we can take here in the Senate that can help heal our nation.

“For instance, just a few months ago we appropriated $400 million to opioid-specific programs—which is nearly one-third more than what the Senate appropriated the preceding year—and all $400 million of those funds remain available to be spent today.

“We can take another step forward now—a big step—with the passage of this authorization bill.

“Just listen to what some officials are saying about CARA’s potential impact:

Northern Kentucky’s top-anti drug official said this bill can help ‘allow individuals, families, and communities to heal from this scourge.’

The president and CEO of a nonprofit organization with programs in Kentucky noted that CARA can ‘create lasting impact in Kentucky’ and ultimately help lead to more Kentuckians ‘receiv[ing] the treatment they desperately need.’

A group that provides overdose prevention training in the commonwealth said that CARA can give them a ‘stronger foundation to move from training to action.’

And President Obama's own drug czar noted that provisions like those in CARA are ‘critically important to make headway’ in this epidemic.

“The bill before us, with all of its important provisions, is the result of hard work and leadership from many colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

“Of course there’s the lead Republican sponsor of this bill, the Junior Senator from Ohio, who has worked closely with colleagues in both parties, like the Junior Senator from New Hampshire as well as the Junior Senator from Rhode Island and the Senior Senator from Minnesota. There’s the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee from Iowa, who worked to move this bill quickly out of committee by voice vote.

“I also want to thank the many Senators who worked with the bill managers to process the kind of amendments both sides agree would make this good bill even better.

“That includes the Senior Senators from Iowa and California, whose amendment would aid in targeting illegal drug importation. It includes the Senior Senator from West Virginia, whose amendment would build upon education and awareness efforts in an effort to underline the dangers of opioid abuse. And it includes the Junior Senator from Pennsylvania, whose amendment would allow Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to implement a prescription drug abuse prevention tool, a tool similar to what’s already available and used in Kentucky in the Medicaid program and private plans.

“The bipartisan collaboration we’ve seen thus far shows what we can achieve on behalf of the American people when we work together toward important, shared priorities.

“The passage of CARA would bring us one step closer to ending prescription opioid and heroin addiction and overdose, so let’s keep working together to pass it.”