Lance Delivers: New Jersey Sees $13 million in new funding to combat opioids

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07), member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, today announced the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the State of New Jersey nearly $13 million in new funding to combat the opioid crisis.

“This is more than just additional funding – these resources come attached to priorities designed to combat the crisis and drive down the terrible opioid abuse statistics.  This problem has hit every community.  Our efforts are making a difference but we cannot let up on the effort.  These additional federal resources come at the right time,” said Lance, a member of the Committee that drafted the legislation.

The Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) grants, which were created by the 21st Century Cures Act, are administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The Energy and Commerce Committee 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.

“The Trump Administration is partnering with states and territories to accelerate the deployment of this historic level of resources provided by the Congress to fight the epidemic,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement put out by his office. “These funds will help support evidence-based efforts at the state level to prevent misuse of opioids in the first place, expand access to effective treatment options for people in need, and support recovery for those who have prevailed.”

Last 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.  The Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to advance additional opioid related legislation next week, including a Lance bill authored with Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-04) that would combat the spread of infectious diseases related to the opioid crisis.  H.R. 5353, The Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases Act will confront the rising cases of HIV, hepatitis C and other infections that stem from drug-use.  The Lance-Kennedy bill tasks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with implementing an infectious disease elimination initiative.  The mark-up next week is also expected to include another Lance bill co-authorized with Congressman Peter Welch (VT-At Large), which would provide state Medicaid programs the option to create Substance Use Disorder-focused Health Homes with a three-year enhanced federal match, to help provide SUD services to the most needy.