Murray: We Must Continue to Push for Emergency Funding to Truly Help Patients & Families Suffering From Opioid Epidemic

Murray: “I’m going to keep working not just for better policies, but better results for families in Washington state and nationwide”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered the following statement after the Senate voted 90-2 to advance the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation intended to help address the nation’s opioid epidemic.

“The legislation passed in the Senate today puts in place important, bipartisan policies—but I can’t say clearly enough that the work is not yet over. As we work to expand access to medication-assisted treatment, help local police officers and sheriff’s prevent overdoses, and prevent unnecessary prescribing, it’s critical that we put new investments into ensuring these policies have the impact that families and communities need.

“Like so many of my colleagues, I’ve heard far too often about the pain and hardship the opioid epidemic has caused. I believe we should be doing everything we can to tackle this crisis. I’m going to keep working not just for better policies, but better results for families in Washington state and nationwide—and I hope Democrats and Republicans will join me.”

As a member of the bicameral conference on CARA, Senator Murray advocated strongly for additional funding to implement policies outlined in the legislation. In addition, Murray worked with her colleagues in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on legislation to improve prevention and treatment of opioid abuse through the health care system. This bipartisan legislative package passed the HELP Committee unanimously in March 2016 and key components were included in the final CARA legislation.