U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Encourages Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse to Act on Newly Available Federal Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic

Major legislation signed into law last week includes $1 billion in funding championed by Senator Baldwin to address opioid epidemic

Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse to meet in La Crosse today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse is set to meet in La Crosse today, Senator Baldwin is encouraging them to act and apply for newly available federal funding to combat the opioid epidemic. Senator Baldwin led the effort to include $1 billion in investments to fight the opioid epidemic in bipartisan legislation.

This week, the availability of new funding to combat the opioid crisis was announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding is provided through the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Obama this week.

“Opioid abuse is an epidemic in our state. Now that Washington has finally stepped up to be a stronger partner for Wisconsin, we must act immediately to put these investments to work,” said Senator Baldwin. “As the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse meets in La Crosse today, I urge them to act on these federal investments that can help support our state’s prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.”

The funds will be made available through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants. Applications for the funds are due from states by February 17, 2017. For detailed information on how to apply for the grant, the Task Force on Opioid Abuse can visit: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-17-014.

Senator Baldwin has been a strong advocate in the fight to address the national opioid epidemic. In just this year, Senator Baldwin has traveled across Wisconsin to hold roundtable dialogues on the opioid and heroin epidemic in Green Bay, La Crosse, Wausau, Viroqua, Ashland, Superior, Eau Claire and Arlington.

Over the past year, Senator Baldwin has been a leading advocate for stronger investments to address the opioid crisis, including cosponsoring legislation to provide emergency funding to address the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic that is devastating communities in Wisconsin and across the country.