As Senate Passes Bill to Combat Opioid Crisis, Murray Calls for Continued Work

Murray: “Now is not the time to get up and walk away from the table…Democrats and Republicans need to double down on their commitment to fighting this epidemic.”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). CARA provides federal grants through the Department of Justice to improve prevention and treatment of opioid addiction, especially for those who have passed through the criminal justice system.

“I’ve heard from far too many Washington state parents, police chiefs, and community leaders about the devastating epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse—and they’ve made very clear that they need action from Congress,” said Senator Murray. “So while I’m disappointed the bill passed in the Senate today does not include emergency funding that could have helped families and communities get federal relief sooner, I’m glad that the Senate has taken action to help prevent opioid addiction and improve treatment for those who pass through the criminal justice system. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act is a strong step forward—but now is not the time to get up and walk away from the table. Instead, Democrats and Republicans need to double down on their commitment to fighting this epidemic and do more to ensure our communities have the tools and resources to save and rebuild lives interrupted by opioid abuse. I’m proud that we are now taking steps toward this goal in the HELP Committee, and I look forward to our continued work.”

Earlier this month, Senator Murray took to the Senator floor to highlight the story of Penny LeGate, a former news anchor from Seattle, who has dealt with the devastating consequences that substance abuse has on families. In addition to these efforts, Murray this week reached agreement in the HELP Committee to bring a series of bipartisan bills to markup.