Opioid Crisis
The heroin and opioid epidemic has claimed too many loved ones, shattered too many lives, and broken too many families. It is a public health crisis that requires immediate attention from lawmakers and the medical community. We see the consequences of this crisis in the 11th District and across Illinois. In Illinois, there were 1,835 overdose deaths in 2015, a 16 percent increase in just two years. The good news is that we have started to view addiction less as a moral failure and more as a treatable medical condition. To help those who struggle with addiction and prevent drug abuse in the first place, we need to understand the science of addiction. The drug naloxone can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. Other drugs are coming to the market which directly block cravings for opiates and greatly reduce the probability of relapse. In order to truly address the opioid crisis, we need to work to prevent addiction before it takes hold, and expand treatment options for individuals who struggle with opioid dependency.
My Work on Opioid Crisis
Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Foster (D-IL) voted for a bipartisan legislative package that would strengthen access to care for those grappling with mental illness and substance use disorders. The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act will strengthen and expand more than 30 federal programs to address widespread shortages in mental health professionals and other barriers to care.
Washington, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced H.R. 7156, the Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion (CARE) Act – a bipartisan bill that would expand access to treatment for people struggling with substance use disorder.
This measure would help countless Medicaid recipients across the country, including thousands in Illinois, access comprehensive intensive inpatient treatment for substance use and addiction.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that all 10 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests he made on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of Illinois were included in the final House-passed omnibus spending bill for a total of $18,870,000.
Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) released the following statement after President Biden delivered the State of the Union address:
“Tonight, President Biden laid out why it’s never a good idea to bet against the American people. After two years of fighting COVID-19, there is no economy on Earth in a better position to confront the global economic challenges triggered by the pandemic.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) announced support for 10 community projects in the 11th Congressional District as part of the House Appropriations Committee’s new Community Projects Funding (CPF) program. For FY2022, the House Appropriations Committee has allowed Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent.
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced two pieces of legislation to help fight the opioid epidemic: the Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act, and the Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act.
The Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act would allow states to be awarded grants through the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, so they can expand capacity for prevention and treatment.
Naperville, IL — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11), Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced that the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program has awarded grant funding to organizations that provide youth substance use prevention programs in DuPage County, Will County, Kane County, and McHenry County. The grant funding includes a $42.5 million investment for FY2020 to youth substance prevention in communities across the country, including 360 Youth Services' Community Alliance for Prevention, McHenry County Regional Offi
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed two spending packages covering all 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2020.
WASHINGTON, DC – Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted all four amendments offered by Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) as part of the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education.
The four amendments offered by Congressman Foster and adopted in the legislation would:
Join Congressman Bill Foster for a discussion about mental health & substance use disorder.
Mental health problems and substance use disorders sometimes occur together. Many individuals who develop substance use disorders are also diagnosed with mental disorders, and vice versa. However, addiction is more complex than a disease and more complex than a mental health issue.
This is event is FREE and open to the public.