In July, after months of negotiation, Congress overwhelmingly passed compromise legislation authorizing nearly $900 million in spending to help fight the growing opioid abuse crisis. The measure, which passed the Senate 92 to 2, strengthened prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, largely by providing medical professionals and law enforcement officials with more tools to help drug addicts. However, disputes between congressional Democrats and Republicans meant that while the bill authorized more spending than had been initially expected, it did not appropriate any corresponding funding as requested by the White House.
The $37 million appropriated as part of the CR is far less than had been hoped for by many advocates, especially given that only $7 million of the $37 million is available to be spent during the ten-week duration of the CR.
Takeaway: The $37 million appropriated to fight the growing opioid addiction epidemic is only an opening salvo in what is expected to be a continued point of debate during the post-election consideration of the appropriations bills.