In Superior, Senator Baldwin Calls for Senate Vote on New Bipartisan Legislation to Fight the Opioid Epidemic

SUPERIOR, WI – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin hosted a roundtable in Superior with law enforcement, first responders, health officials and community leaders and called for a Senate vote on new bipartisan legislation that she helped pass in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. 

“Washington needs to step up and be a stronger partner to local communities fighting this epidemic,” said Senator Baldwin. “No first responder should be unable to save a life because they don’t have what they need. We need to support our first responders by making naloxone more accessible and affordable. The Senate HELP Committee has put forward bipartisan legislation to give our communities more resources to save lives, and now it’s time to bring that legislation to the Senate floor and pass it.”

As a member of the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Baldwin successfully worked to include key reforms in the bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018.

The bipartisan legislation would help prevent the flow of illegal fentanyl and opioids from other countries, support first responders with lifesaving naloxone, extend and expand investments in local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, and provide more resources to combat the growing meth problem in Wisconsin.

The Opioid Crisis Response Act passed the Senate HELP Committee in April and is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.

Senator Baldwin has also helped introduce the bipartisan Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act that directly supports rural emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in training and recruiting staff and purchasing equipment like naloxone. 

Senator Baldwin was joined at the roundtable today by Superior Mayor Jim Paine; Superior Fire Department Chief Steve Panger; Superior Police Chief Nick Alexander; Douglas County Sheriff Tom Dalbec; Sgt. Jim Madden, who heads up the drug prevention task force; Corey Larson, Medical Service Director at the Superior Fire Department; Tim Monte, narcotics officer; Betsy Byler, Director of the Outpatient Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Services at the Lake Superior Community Health Center; Douglas County Health & Human Services officials; and community members affected by this crisis.