Letter to the Hon Tom Cole, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and the Hon Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies - McSally Leads Effort to Secure Resources to Combat Opioid Epidemic

Letter

Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member De Lauro,

In light of the recent passage of H.R. 1892, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, we write to express our strong support for the inclusion of potentially billions of dollars in additional resources to combat the opioid crisis. With the number of Americans killed by drug overdoses nearly doubling in the last decade, it is clear that we must redouble our efforts to stop this disastrous and heartbreaking problem that is wreaking havoc on our communities and kills an average of 115 Americans every single day.[1] That means this crisis claims nearly as many American lives in one year as the entire Korean War.

As you are aware, the 21st Century Cures Act contained almost $1 billion in funding for the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants to help fight the opioid crisis. While these grants have begun to make a difference in our communities, we want to build on this effort. We are encouraged to hear in discussions that H.R. 1892 provides room for the appropriation of an additional few billion dollars for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 to continue the fight against the opioid crisis and improve mental health care. We want to ensure that these funds are appropriated and specifically targeted towards the areas and populations in the most need of assistance.

Despite recent efforts to target resources to those most in need, Native Americans and native Alaskans who had 500% increase in overdose deaths--have been left out of the conversation.[2] As you begin to appropriate the much needed additional funds to fight the opioid crisis, we ask that you target the funds towards those populations most in need including states with the highest per-capita overdose mortality rates, as well as tribal and rural areas. Please make sure that your appropriations legislation clearly states that these funds must be targeted to the areas and populations who need it most.

Sincerely,