Courtney, Esty Applaud New Opioid Funds in Year-End Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) today applauded the inclusion of $500 million in new funding to combat the opioid crisis in the year-end continuing resolution that the House is expected to vote on tomorrow.

“Both of us represent communities that have been devastated by opioid addiction and that don’t have the resources they need to deal with the crisis,” Courtney and Esty said. “At long last, this bill provides real, tangible funds to help our cities and towns prevent folks from becoming addicted to opiates and to help families affected by this epidemic recover and move forward. We will work hard in the New Year to ensure Congress renews this investment in the wellbeing of our communities and continue fighting for bipartisan reforms that will help Connecticut finally turn the tide on drug addiction.”

The continuing resolution, which will fund federal programs through April 28, 2017, appropriates $500 million to the account created by the 21st Century Cures Act to support grants to states to respond to the opioid addiction crisis.

On Nov. 21, Courtney and Esty led a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging them to fund opioid treatment and enforcement programs in the coming year. Reps. John Larson (CT-1) and Jim Himes (CT-4) joined that effort as well.

The 21st Century Cures Act, which passed the House on Dec. 1 and the Senate this afternoon, authorized the funding Courtney and Esty asked for, and this week’s continuing resolution makes that funding available through April 28, 2017.

Both Courtney and Esty served on the conference committee that crafted the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, a bipartisan legislative package to respond to the nationwide opioid epidemic that President Obama signed into law in July.

In addition, both Courtney and Esty have been leaders in the fight to secure additional federal resources to address the growing prescription opioid and heroin epidemic. In February, Courtney introduced H.R. 4447, the Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would appropriate $600 million in emergency supplemental funds to law enforcement and public health efforts to address the opioid crisis in local communities. In March, Esty introduced H.R. 4697, the Prevent Drug Addiction Act, which would provide much-needed federal assistance to help communities in Connecticut and across the country prevent opioid addiction from happening in the first place.

Both Courtney and Esty serve on the House Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic.

###