White pharmaceutical pills spilling from prescription bottle over American map
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) on March 25 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would authorize roughly $785 million in federal funds to prevent, treat and provide Americans with recovery services for a substance use disorder.
Sen. Portman introduced the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 3.0, S. 987, with cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to increase the funding authorization levels for the CARA programs enacted in 2016, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Portman’s office.
“In the new Congress, we have a unique opportunity to work together in a bipartisan way and I believe that CARA 3.0 can help us make a real difference in combating this epidemic,” Sen. Portman said.
CARA programs in fiscal year 2021 were funded at $782 million and S. 987 would build on several key provisions of CARA 2.0 that were enacted as part of the SUPPORT Act in October 2018 by increasing the funding authorization levels and laying out new policy reforms to strengthen the federal government’s response to the opioid crisis.
“In recent years we have made progress in fighting the scourge of addiction thanks to resources from the bipartisan CARA law, in addition to other bipartisan efforts in Congress,” said Sen. Portman. “However, the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges and we are now seeing another heartbreaking surge in overdose deaths. That is why we must redouble our efforts to combat addiction and help those who are suffering during this crisis.”
If enacted, S. 987 would authorize $300 million to expand evidence-based medication-assisted treatment; $200 million to build a national infrastructure for recovery support services to help individuals move successfully from treatment into long-term recovery; and $100 million to expand treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, including facilities that allow children to reside with their mothers, the summary says.
Additionally, S. 987 would authorize $55 million for training and employment for substance abuse professionals; $50 million to provide quality treatment for addiction in correctional facilities and in community reentry programs; $30 million for deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs in the criminal justice system; $10 million or more to fund a National Education Campaign on the dangers of prescription opioid misuse, heroin and lethal fentanyl; $10 million for community-based coalition enhancement grants to address local drug crises; $20 million to expand Veterans Treatment Courts; and $10 million for a National Youth Recovery Initiative to develop, support, and maintain youth recovery support services.
“Despite our needed focus on the COVID pandemic and the other challenges facing our nation, we must remain committed to addressing the substance use disorder epidemic which continues to impact far too many of our communities,” said Sen. Capito. “I believe this bipartisan legislation will provide the resources necessary to achieve these goals and help individuals and families find the help they desperately need.”