Opioid Epidemic
The opioid epidemic has touched the lives of nearly every American, and unfortunately far too many Long Island families have felt the effects of this crisis firsthand. Throughout my career I have championed efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, such as improving access for addiction recovery and treatment programs, requiring doctors and pharmacists to increase transparency when prescribing opioids, educating on the benefits and administration of NARCAN, and increasing awareness on disposing of unused prescriptions.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2379, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act with my strong support. This bill would authorize $1.75 billion annually for State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants through Fiscal Year 2027. I also voted in favor of funding State Opioid Response Grants (SOR) grants to provide states and tribal organizations with much-needed resources to combat the opioid epidemic. The money distributed through SOR grants helps provide additional treatment beds, hire the workforce necessary to expand treatment and recovery options, bridge gaps identified in systems of care, and support robust prevention campaigns.
I adamantly oppose Mayor Bill de Blasio’s injection sites which will only worsen the opioid crisis in New York City and set a dangerous precedent for the rest of New York. There were five overdoses at an allegedly "safe" East Harlem injection site, which saw 85 users inject drugs laced with fentanyl, including heroin. That’s why I helped introduce the Defund de Blasio’s Injection Sites Act to ensure that no federal dollars are used to subsidize government supervised drug use. I am committed to working with local police to enforce the law while ensuring those suffering from opioid addiction receive the compassionate treatment they need.
I look forward to building upon these efforts throughout the 117th Congress to beat this crisis once and for all. Here’s how I am working to combat the opioid epidemic:
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