Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) applauded yesterday's Senate committee action to nearly double funding for programs to combat the opioid epidemic as well as provide increased resources for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education approved a 93 percent increase in funding in the FY2017 appropriations bill to responsibly increase resources to combat the opioid epidemic. The measure also recommends eliminating 18 ineffective or duplicative programs equaling more than $1 billion in spending reductions.
"It is important that my colleagues and I work to stem the opioid crisis in an effective and fiscally responsible manner," said Sen. Toomey. "I am grateful for Chairman Blunt's work to achieve this goal and I appreciate his traveling to Philadelphia last year to see firsthand the incredible research being conducted in Pennsylvania with NIH grants. I will carefully review the full text of the bill and I look forward to continuing to work to fight the scourge of drug abuse."
"Sen. Toomey has a long track record fighting the heroin and prescription drug problem, including supporting federal resources to tackle this serious issue," said Chairman Blunt. "Sen. Toomey has been instrumental in leading the Senate's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, and I look forward to working with him, and all of my colleagues, to advance this measure."
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