Issue Position: Fighting the Addiction Crisis

Issue Position

There is no more persistent issue in New Hampshire than the addiction crisis which continues to claim the lives of our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and loved ones.A crisis of this scale demands sustained support and a long-term strategy. As a member of the Freshman Working Group on Addiction as well as the Congressional Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force, Chris has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put politics aside and invest in evidence-based solutions.

Chris worked to increase federal funding for the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program which supports cross-sectional programs that break the cycle of addiction. Chris also introduced the National ACERT Grant Program Authorization Act which would establish a federal grant program to provide resources for first responders to connect with local child specialists and professionals to intervene and mitigate the impacts of childhood trauma. ACERT programs, like the one piloted in Manchester since 2015, help stop the cycle of addiction by linking children and families affected by the opioid epidemic to services that will help place them on a path to success.

Chris believes that access to quality, affordable health care -- including mental health care services -- is critical to our success in the work to address the opioid epidemic. During his time on the New Hampshire Executive Council, Chris helped implement Medicaid expansion, which dramatically expanded access to treatment services for Granite Staters. In Washington he has fought to safeguard the ACA, reduce prescription drug costs, and protect access to health care coverage for those who have lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Congress, Chris is fighting the epidemic of addiction and substance abuse by:

Opposing any proposals to undermine Medicaid expansion which has been one of the most effective tools in addressing the opioid epidemic

Leading an effort to protect individuals with pre-existing conditions including substance use disorder

Introducing the Insurance Fairness for First Responders Act, bipartisan legislation to increase protections for first responders on the front lines of our nation's opioid epidemic

Supporting legislation to expand patient access to non-opioid approaches for acute pain management which would curb the rise of addiction through prescription opioids

Advocating for the Opioid Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation that addresses the opioid crisis by building the pipeline of medical professionals who specialize in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain management

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