{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-highlights-release-grants-combat-opioid-crisis-oregon", "Greg Walden highlights release of grants to combat the opioid crisis in Oregon", "2018-04-19", "2018", "2018-04", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden highlights release of grants to combat the opioid crisis in Oregon \n Calls combating the opioid crisis his top priority during speech on House floor \nClick here or on the image above to view Walden's speech on the floor of the House of Representatives\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, applauded the announcement of grant funding to tackle opioid addiction in Oregon. As part of the 21st Century Cures Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the second round of grants to help states and territories combat the opioid epidemic. Oregon will receive $6,564,425 in grants that will be administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and be used toward the prevention of opioid abuse and treatment to those affected. Oregon received $6.5 million in the first round of grants that were announced in April 2017.\nThese are vital and welcome resources in the fight to combat the opioid crisis. As we continue to hear of loved ones lost, this is another tool in our arsenal, said Walden. While this Congress has made available a record amount of financial resources to help stem the tide, it is imperative these critical dollars are being best used in the communities hardest hit. Part of our ongoing legislative efforts will make it easier to track these important resources and ensure they are effectively deployed.\nDuring a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday, Walden called combating the opioid crisis in Oregon and across the country his top priority as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Walden has held roundtable discussions and meetings throughout Oregon's Second Congressional District to understand what is working -- and what is not working -- in the fight against the opioid crisis on the ground in Oregon.\nAt roundtables throughout my district in Oregon, I've met with the victims, families, doctors, treatment advocates, and law enforcement officers on the front lines of this fight, said Walden during his speech. Their stories are all too similar, and all too familiar, and they put names and faces to a crisis that has touched every community in our country.\nThe Energy and Commerce Committee has led the charge in responding to the epidemic. In addition to the state grants within the 21st Century Cures Act, committee investigations also led to legislative solutions that ultimately were included in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) last Congress.\nLast month, President Trump signed into law a government funding bill that provided $4 billion to help address prevention, treatment, and enforcement issues, as part of the opioid epidemic.\nUnder Walden's leadership, Energy and Commerce is in the midst of a two-track push to combat the opioid crisis, seeking to advance legislation to help stem the tide and investigate some of the root causes of the crisis. Specifically, the committee's legislative efforts have examined bills to: improve patient safety and bolster enforcement tools, advance prevention and public health solutions, and address coverage and payment issues within Medicare and Medicaid.\nTo learn more about Walden's efforts to combat the opioid crisis, click HERE.\n###", 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://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-highlights-release-grants-combat-opioid-crisis-oregon"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6648639682680368, "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"}