{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-leads-bipartisan-letter-to-house-leadership-calling-for-budget", "Kuster Leads Bipartisan Letter to House Leadership Calling for Budget Anomalies to Address Opioid Epidemic", "2016-09-13", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC\u00a0\u2013 Last night, U.S. Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, led a bipartisan letter with 38 Representatives to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging the use of budget anomalies to fund efforts to address the opioid epidemic. Earlier this year, Kuster helped pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which takes important steps toward addressing the opioid epidemic. Unfortunately, CARA does not appropriate new funding to support those on the frontlines addressing the opioid addiction crisis. Budget anomalies would give agencies discretion to use diverted funds for efforts that address addiction under a continuing resolution until Congress approves a new appropriations bill.\u00a0\n\u201cHeroin and prescription opioid misuse is devastating communities nationwide,\u201d the Representatives wrote. \u201cAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), currently more than 129 Americans die every day as a result of drug overdoses and the epidemic is worsening.\n\u201cRecognizing American lives hang in the balance, we request consideration for appropriation anomalies in negotiations of a continuing resolution that reflect the advances made in the FY17 subcommittee bills, which address opioid enforcement, prevention, treatment, research, and recovery efforts. Funding as appropriated in FY16 simply does not reflect the current intent of Congress or come close to addressing the life-saving needs of our communities.\u201d\nAs the co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, Kuster has been at the forefront of the fight to address the heroin and opioid crisis at the federal level and in New Hampshire. She has been an outspoken advocate for the need to support medical, law enforcement, treatment, and recovery efforts, and has heard directly from stakeholders across the state. In recognition of her leadership on this issue, Kuster was\u00a0appointed to the conference committee tasked with producing the final version of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\u00a0\nSeptember 12, 2016\n\u00a0\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Paul D. Ryan \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Speaker \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Minority Leader\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 U.S. House of Representatives \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 U.S. House of Representatives\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Washington, D.C. 20515\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Washington, D.C. 20515\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDear Mr. Speaker and Madam Leader,\n\u00a0\nHeroin and prescription opioid misuse is devastating communities nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), currently more than 129 Americans die every day as a result of drug overdoses and the epidemic is worsening. This crisis is exacerbated by the increased use of a deadlier and more potent opioid known as fentanyl, which is driving the majority of fatal overdoses. At the same time, the lack of resources, treatment options, research funding, and drug education impedes efforts to resolve the crisis.\nEarlier this year, Congress acted with overwhelming support to give law enforcement, healthcare providers, caregivers, and educators more resources to better do their jobs. Passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) shows Congress\u2019 bipartisan commitment to resolve this epidemic by providing grants to communities to fight substance use disorder.\nAdditionally, the House Appropriations Committee reflected many of the advances developed in CARA that address needed heroin and opioid funding changes in several of the FY17 subcommittee bills reported out of Committee.\u00a0 However, these funding adjustments will not be reflected in a continuing resolution, whether short or long-term, hamstringing our national response for Americans suffering and dying from heroin and opioid addiction. Congress\u2019 inability to finish the appropriations process threatens to leave embattled communities without the funding and assistance they need to save lives.\nRecognizing American lives hang in the balance, we request consideration for appropriation anomalies in negotiations of a continuing resolution that reflect the advances made in the FY17 subcommittee bills, which address opioid enforcement, prevention, treatment, research, and recovery efforts. Funding as appropriated in FY16 simply does not reflect the current intent of Congress or come close to addressing the life-saving needs of our communities.\nThrough the comprehensive and targeted approach reflected in the FY17 bills, which leverage evidence-based law enforcement initiatives, treatment, and support for recovery, we can reverse the skyrocketing number of heroin and prescription opioid overdoses and deaths. We hope you will prioritize this request and grant these life-saving anomalies to ensure timely and adequate help for our communities that suffer daily the burdens of prescription opioid and heroin abuse.\nThank you for your consideration.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sincerely,\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Rep. Annie Kuster\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Frank Guinta\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Marcy Kaptur\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Patrick Meehan\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Steve Knight\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Tim Ryan\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Katherine Clark\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Cheri Bustos\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Debbie Dingell\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. John Larson\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Grace Meng\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Niki Tsongas\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Steve Israel\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. David Cicilline\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Jim Himes\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Bill Keating\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Seth Moulton\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Paul Tonko\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Elijah Cummings\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Elizabeth Esty\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Brian Higgins\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Richard Neal\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Chellie Pingree\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Richard Hanna\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Rick Nolan\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. DelBene\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Keith Rothfus\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Tom MacArthur\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Gerry Connolly\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Julia Brownley\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Carolyn Maloney\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Joe Crowley\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. James P. McGovern\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Chris Van Hollen\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Bruce Poliquin\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rep. Marcia Fudge\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\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": ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-leads-bipartisan-letter-to-house-leadership-calling-for-budget"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2023909948766232, "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"}