{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/trump-s-plan-address-opioid-epidemic-does-not-go-far-enough-support", "Trumps Plan to Address Opioid Epidemic Does Not Go Far Enough to Support Struggling Mainers", "2017-08-08", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and several of her House colleagues have sent a letter to President Trump calling on him to address the opioid epidemic raging in their states. The letter comes after the President\u2019s Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis missed two self-imposed deadlines then finally released its initial findings. The letter, signed by Representatives Chellie Pingree, Annie Kuster (NH-02), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Tim Ryan (OH-13), Tom O\u2019Halleran (AZ-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Marcia Fudge (OH-11), outlines the need to increase funding for treatment and recovery services, as well as cease efforts to roll back access to health insurance.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cNot enough Mainers are getting the treatment they need. Over the last year, one person a day has died in Maine from a drug-related overdose,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree said of the letter. \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, block grant Medicaid, and cut public health funding would worsen, not improve, the state of substance use disorder in Maine.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Members wrote in their letter to the President, \u201cWhile we appreciate that the Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis led by Governor Chris Christie finally released its interim report on July 31st, we remain concerned that the Trump Administration has not done enough to prioritize the opioid epidemic.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201c\u2026we request that you immediately call on Congress to provide emergency appropriations to combat the opioid epidemic and to cease their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act,\u201d the Members continued. \u201cWithout addressing these two areas of concern, an effective response to this 21st Century public health emergency will be inadequate.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cWe are all concerned by the impact of this epidemic on our communities across the country and across all demographics. We are prepared to work with you to help fulfill your campaign promise to \u2018end the opioid epidemic in America.\u2019 Without bipartisan legislative action, the recommendations outlined by your Commission\u2019s interim report will remain unfulfilled.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  The full text of the letter is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/trump-s-plan-address-opioid-epidemic-does-not-go-far-enough-support"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8340450003743172, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}