Senator Continues Advancing Legislation to Prevent Sale, Shipment of Illicit Synthetic Drugs

 

Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, this week joined the Senate in passing Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 funding legislation to help combat the opioid abuse epidemic. Through his role on the committee, Hoeven advocated strong support for the opioid abuse prevention, treatment and recovery programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Further, the legislation directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to prioritize efforts to combat opioid abuse in rural communities. This is similar to an amendment Hoeven sponsored and included in the Senate’s farm bill for the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grant program. Hoeven was subsequently chosen to serve on the Senate-House farm bill conference committee.

These provisions come in addition to funding that Hoeven, who serves as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, secured in the recently-passed Agriculture-FDA funding bill to interdict illicit substances, such as fentanyl, at international mailing facilities and support rural telemedicine grants to help address opioid abuse.

“This funding legislation is another step in our efforts to support treatment for, and prevention of, opioid abuse, which has placed a tremendous strain on families and communities across the country,” Hoeven said. “Law enforcement, health care and social service providers are hard at work in this effort. Our bill, in addition to other measures we are advancing to help block the sale and shipment of illicit drugs, will help them to be successful in this vital mission.”