‘CARA Is A Monumental Step Forward’

More Than 180 Groups Call On Congress To Act On Conference Report

More Than 180 National Anti-Drug Groups: “We …are calling on Congress for quick action to send this to the President's desk for signature.” (Letter to Members of Congress on S. 524, 7/6/2016)

‘CARA Is A Monumental Step Forward’
ADDICTIONPOLICY.ORG: “Let’s not play politics; 129 people are dying every day in our country at the hands of this epidemic. CARA has real resources, real policy change, and is part of much larger picture of 33 key programs that represent a comprehensive approach to addiction. CARA is a monumental step forward – a tipping point to better addressing the paralyzing opioid epidemic.  It includes the six pillars of a comprehensive response, including prevention, treatment, recovery support, criminal justice reform, overdose reversal, and law enforcement. Only through a comprehensive response can we reverse current trends and provide individuals and families impacted by addiction with the services they need. We cannot let the perfect stand in the way of the good. Let’s pass CARA…” (“CARA Part Of An $8.3 Billion Response To Addiction,” Additionpolicy.Org, 7/6/16)

Over 180 Anti-Drug Groups Urge Congress To Pass The Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act
More Than 180 National Anti-Drug Groups: “We are writing to endorse the final conference report for S.524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that will be considered this week. We commend the conferees for the final bill and are calling on Congress for quick action to send this to the President's desk for signature.” (Letter to Members of Congress on S. 524, 7/6/2016)

• “As you know, 129 Americans die each day as a result of drug overdose and this epidemic affects the public health and safety in every community across the country. This bill is the critical response we need.” (Letter to Members of Congress on S. 524, 7/6/2016)
• Faces and Voices of Recovery
• American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
• American Psychological Association
• Association of Persons Affected by Addiction (APAA)
• Association of Recovery Community Organizations (ARCO)
• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
• Drug Policy Alliance
• Families of Addicts (FOA)
• Foundation for Recovery
• Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse
• National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
• National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR)
• National Association For Children of Alcoholics
• National Association of Counties (NACo)
• National Criminal Justice Association
• National Association of Drug Court Professionals
• National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
• Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
• The Veterans Health Council

CARA A ‘Bipartisan Effort To Address The Heroin And Opioid Epidemic’ CARA a “…bipartisan effort to address the heroin and opioid epidemic, which has ravaged much of the country...” (“Democrats Funding Demand Threatens To Derail Opioid Bill,” Politico Pro, 7/05/2016) CARA passed the Senate by a vote of 94-1, without a single Democrat in opposition. (S. 524, Roll Call Vote #34: Passed 94-1: R 50-1; D 43-0; I 1-0, 3/10/2016)

• All 3 Senate Democrat conference committee members voted for the bill. (S. 524, Introduced 2/12/2015; S. 524, Roll Call Vote #34: Passed 94-1: R 50-1; D 43-0; I 1-0, 3/10/2016; Leahy, Murray, and Wyden voted Yea)
• 27 Democrats Are Cosponsors Of CARA: Sen. Baldwin (D-WI), Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Booker (D-NJ), Sen. Coons (D-DE), Sen. Donnelly (D-IN), Sen. Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Franken (D-MN), Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Heinrich (D-NM), Sen. Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Manchin (D-WV), Sen. McCaskill (D-MO), Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Schatz (D-HI), Sen. Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Tester (D-MT), Sen. Udall (D-NM), Sen. Warren (D-MA), Sen. King (I-ME), Sen. Sanders (I-VT) (S.524, Cosponsors)

CARA passed the House by a vote of 400-5. (S. 524, Roll Call Vote #193: Passed 400-5: R 228-4; D 172-1, 5/13/2016)

• All but one of the 14 House Democrat conference committee members voted for the bill. (S. 524, Introduced 2/12/2015; S. 524, Roll Call Vote #193: Passed 400-5: R 228-4; D 172-1, 5/13/2016; Pallone, Ben Ray Lujan, Sarbanes, Gene Green, Conyers, Jackson Lee, Chu, Cohen, Esty, Kuster, Courtney, Ruiz, And McDermott Voted Yea)

Senate Dems: ‘This Bill Is Historic’ SEN. PAT LEAHY (D-VT): “I am proud to be a cosponsor of CARA, and I am glad to see the Senate pass this bill. This bill is historic because it marks the first time that we are treating addiction like the public health crisis that it is.” (Sen. Leahy, Congressional Record, S.1434, 3/10/16) SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-RI): “Madam President, I am delighted to join Senator Casey of Pennsylvania and Senator Brown of Ohio on the floor this morning to applaud what appears to be the imminent passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. … I thank my cosponsors. This was not a bill that was just dreamed up in back offices. We had five national seminars in Washington, bringing people in from all around the country to share their experiences, to share their advice, to share their best practices, and to inform the development of this bill. It has been years of work in the making.” (Sen. Whitehouse, Congressional Record, S.1401, 3/10/16) SEN. SHERROD BROWN (D-OH): “I am pleased we are coming together in a bipartisan way overall, finally taking action on the opioid epidemic that is devastating communities across our country.” (Sen. Brown, Congressional Record, S.1401, 3/10/16) SEN. JON TESTER (D-MT): “Mr. President, earlier today the Senate overwhelming passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which is a good first step toward combatting the opioid addition epidemic facing our Nation.” (Sen. Tester, Congressional Record, S.1434, 3/10/16)

Senate Republicans Have More Than Doubled Funding To Fight Opioid Abuse In Fiscal Year 2017, the Republican majority is proposing $469 million in funding to combat opioid abuse, an increase of $249 million or 113% since FY 2015. (Senate Appropriations Committee Staff, 7/5/2016) This funding is included in appropriations bills that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support:

• The Fiscal Year 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill passed unanimously out of the Appropriations Committee, by a vote of 30-0. (Senate Appropriations Committee, Press Release, 4/21/2016)
• The Fiscal Year 2017 Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill passed the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 29-1. (Senate Appropriations Committee, Press Release, 6/09/2016)
In Fiscal Year 2016, the new Republican majority passed $320 million in funding to combat opioid abuse, an increase of $101 million since FY 2015. (Senate Appropriations Committee Staff, 7/5/2016)

In Fiscal Year 2015, the Democrat majority in the Senate passed $220 million in funding to combat opioid abuse. (Senate Appropriations Committee Staff, 7/5/2016)

Former Democrat Majority Never Made Opioid Abuse A Priority “CARA sponsors have been fighting to bring the bill to the Senate floor since 2014.” (“Opioid Bill Passes U.S. Senate,” New Hampshire Union Leader, 3/10/2016)

• “A similar bill introduced in 2014 never made it to the Senate floor.” (“U.S. Senate Passes Drug-Addiction Treatment Bill Co-Sponsored By Sen. Whitehouse,” The Providence Journal, 3/10/2016)

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