{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7C1B12AC-3799-4CAA-A2C3-FCA783EB72BA", "COCHRAN WELCOMES ADMINISTRATION ATTENTION TO OPIOID EPIDEMIC", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Thad Cochran", "C000567", "www.cochran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Following President Trump\u2019s address today regarding the opioid epidemic, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) welcomed the administration\u2019s attention to the crisis. President Trump on Thursday issued a public health emergency declaration to address the opioid crisis.\u00a0 This designation would give federal agencies added flexibility to reprogram existing funds. \u201cThe opioid crisis is a public health and safety challenge that should not be underestimated,\u201d Cochran said.\u00a0 \u201cOver the past few years, the Appropriations Committee has approved significant new funding throughout the government to address this crisis, including money for opioid interdiction, prevention, and treatment programs.\u201d \u201cThe Senate Appropriations Committee welcomes the opportunity to work with the President and his administration to make more progress on this problem, which has already ruined so many lives,\u201d he said. Under the leadership of Republican chairmen, funding to combat opioid abuse has more than quadrupled, while remaining within budget caps\u2014increasing by $1.2 billion or 415 percent over the past three years. This year, the Senate committee has approved FY2018 funding totaling $1.45 billion for health, law enforcement, and veterans agencies to combat heroin and opioid addiction, overdoses and deaths\u2014a significant contrast from the $289 million provided in Fiscal Year 2015. Cochran indicated that the committee welcomes an opportunity to work with the administration to fund:\u00a0 research efforts into pain control and alternative treatments; new and comprehensive pain management training and education for prescribers; increased naloxone availability, particularly for veterans; and state and local law enforcement grants to help communities improve response to opioid-related cases. SUMMARY:\u00a0 Funding Over Past Three Years Under Senate Republican Chairmen to Combat Heroin and Opioid Abuse Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations   From $57 million in FY2015 to $801 million in FY2017; $816 million in FY2018 Senate bill. Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations  From $233 million in FY2015 to $277 million in FY2017; $288 million in FY2018 Senate bill. VA Funding to Combat Heroin and Opioid Abuse  From $231 million in FY2015 to $368 million in FY2017; $386 million in FY2018 Senate bill. TOTAL \u2013 Government Wide  From $289 million in FY2015 to $1.45 billion in FY2017; $1.49 billion in FY2018 Senate bill. (All but FY2018 reflect enacted levels.)\r\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://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7C1B12AC-3799-4CAA-A2C3-FCA783EB72BA"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8834779728204012, "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"}