President Trump Signs Senator Baldwin’s Opioid Crisis Response Reforms Into Law
Prevent the flow of illegal fentanyl, opioids, and meth from other countries
Stronger support for local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts
More resources for growing meth problem in Wisconsin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Trump signed into law a number of Senator Baldwin’s bipartisan reforms to combat the opioid crisis in Wisconsin.
As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Baldwin authored key reforms included in bipartisan legislation which passed the Senate earlier this month.
Senator Baldwin worked to include provisions that will help prevent the flow of illegal fentanyl, opioids and methamphetamine from other countries; extend and expand investments in local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts; and provide more resources to combat the growing methamphetamine problem in Wisconsin.
“I’ve met with local health officials, law enforcement and those who have lost loved ones throughout Wisconsin, and it’s clear Washington must do more to be a stronger partner in supporting local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts,” said Senator Baldwin. “In Wisconsin, we have seen a spike in fentanyl overdose deaths and a growing problem of methamphetamine abuse in our state. That’s why I have worked to provide more resources and flexibility to help Wisconsin fight this epidemic, and to stop the flow of illicit drugs, like fentanyl, meth and illegal opioids, coming from other countries into America. These bipartisan reforms are an important step forward and will help provide Wisconsin the tools we need to save lives.”
Prevent the flow of illegal fentanyl, opioids, and meth from other countries
The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 includes a bipartisan reform introduced by Senator Baldwin that would help stop the flow of illegal opioids, fentanyl, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs into the country through International Mail Facilities.
The Restricting Entrance and Strengthening the Requirements on Import Controls for Trafficking (RESTRICT) Illicit Drugs Act, introduced with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), would give the FDA more tools to prevent illegal fentanyl, opioids and other illicit synthetic drugs from entering the country at the border through our International Mail Facilities.
Recently, communities across Wisconsin have seen dramatic increases in illicit fentanyl overdoses. According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, in 2018, there have been 193 confirmed opioid-related overdose deaths and 117 confirmed fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Milwaukee County.
Stronger support for local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts
Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin led the effort to include an additional $1 billion in the FY2018 omnibus spending bill signed by President Trump for the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant program.
The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 includes provisions from Baldwin’s Opioid Response Enhancement Act to expand and extend the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant program to provide states and tribal communities more resources for local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. The grant program was established as part of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act that Senator Baldwin worked to pass in Congress.
More resources for growing meth problem in Wisconsin
Senator Baldwin has held roundtable dialogues across the state with law enforcement, first responders, health officials and community leaders where she has learned about the growing problem of methamphetamine abuse in Wisconsin.
In response, Senator Baldwin worked to include a reform in the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 that would provide states with more flexibility in using federal funding so Wisconsin will be able to put it to work to address the growing meth problem in our state.
