Donnelly Efforts on Opioids, Miners Health Care Funded in Bipartisan Agreement to Keep Federal Government Running

Press Release

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly praised the bipartisan agreement reached last evening that will fund the federal government through the end of September. The bill includes critically-needed funds to combat the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemics by fully funding programs in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). Donnelly has been pushing for CARA programs to be fully funded since the legislation to address the opioid epidemic was signed into law in July 2016. He signed a letter to congressional leaders requesting necessary funding to confront this public health crisis. CARA includes programs to expand prevention and treatment efforts and strengthen state prescription drug monitoring programs. Donnelly helped lead the fight to pass CARA last year and had several provisions enacted as part of the law.

The agreement also includes a permanent fix for coal miners' health care benefits, which had been temporarily extended in December 2016. Donnelly has been pushing for a permanent solution to this issue as a vocal supporter of the Miners Protection Act and has spoken on the floor of the Senate and met with Hoosier mineworkers as part of this effort. Approximately 1,500 retired Hoosiers, primarily in southern Indiana, would have lost their health care benefits without this agreement.

Donnelly said, "This bipartisan agreement will keep the government open and provide the funding I've fought for that is needed to combat the opioid abuse and heroin epidemics that continue to devastate families and communities across Indiana. And, after bipartisan efforts that I have been fighting for, the bill provides a permanent solution that will ensure Indiana's retired mineworkers and their families receive the health care benefits they have earned. This is a clear example of what happens when we work together."

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