Rep. Sherrill Co-Led Bipartisan Bill To Provide Grants to Communities Battling Opioid Epidemic
Washington, DC–– Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan H.R. 2379, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, which Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) co-led alongside Rep. David Trone (MD-06). Additionally, the bill was co-sponsored by Rep. James Baird (IN-04), Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At Large), Rep. Kelly Armstrong (ND-At Large), Rep. Ann Kuster (NH-02), Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13), and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02).
This bipartisan legislation bolsters the State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Grants programs over the next six years, making critical investments in the resources communities need to respond to the opioid epidemic. With these grants, states and grant recipients can fuel a wide array of services and fund crucial aspects of their mission by expanding the number of treatment beds, hiring additional workers, providing more treatment and recovery options, establishing prevention campaigns, and bridging gaps in existing systems of care.
"The opioid crisis touches every corner of this country, devastating families and communities in every town, city, and state. Despite the diligent work of advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement -- such as Hope One in my district, who teach prevention tactics and offer support to those struggling with addiction -- this epidemic remains overwhelming and demands all the federal support we can provide," said Rep. Sherrill. "I'm incredibly proud that today the House passed the bipartisan State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, a bill I co-led alongside Rep. Trone. These grants have proven results in aiding organizations on the ground, allowing them to expand their workforce and provide the tools they need to save lives through both treatment and prevention."
Rep. Sherrill has been working on addressing the opioid epidemic since her first term in office, joining both the bipartisan Freshmen Working Group on Addiction and the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. The State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act in 2019 was one of the first bills she co-led after being sworn into office.
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