Compromise Drug-Abuse Bill Sent to the President

WASHINGTON — Congress sent President Barack Obama a compromise bill Wednesday aimed at curbing abuse of heroin and other drugs, a nationwide epidemic that kills more than 100 Americans every day.

The overwhelming 92-2 Senate vote comes just days before the seven-week congressional break.

The legislation, called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, creates grants and other programs aimed at addressing drug abuse, especially heroin and opioids, a crippling problem that claims victims across racial, economic and geographic lines. There were more than 47,000 U.S. drug abuse fatalities in 2014 - double the death rate in 2000. Most of those deaths were from heroin or opioids, potentially addictive medications that are prescribed to kill pain.

"We can all agree that the drug epidemic is crushing American communities and it has to stop," U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said in a release. "This is especially true in West Virginia, where we have the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in overdose deaths.

"I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues in the Senate, with health and law enforcement professionals in West Virginia, and with individual families and advocates to develop a spectrum of solutions to curb this epidemic. This bill reflects those efforts and includes several provisions that will bring us closer to reversing this trend."

In a statement, the White House said Obama would sign the bill while expressing disappointment that it failed to provide significant money to deal with the epidemic.

"Some action is better than none," the White House said, but Obama "won't stop fighting to secure the resources this public health crisis demands. Congressional Republicans have not done their jobs until they provide the funding for treatment that communities need to combat this epidemic."

The government has estimated that more than 2 million Americans have opioid abuse problems, and nearly 500,000 more are heroin addicts.

Democrats had complained that the election-year bill does not include money to pay for its programs, but said it was better to back the measure and push for more money in future spending bills.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said the bill's passage was a "solid start" to combating the opioid epidemic but more resources are needed in order for it to be effective.

"The federal government's approach to this tragic trend needs to be comprehensive, which includes funding for programs and treatment centers across the country," Manchin said in a release. "I have introduced legislation, the LifeBOAT Act, that would close that funding gap and ensure the federal government can provide treatment to everyone who makes the decision to get help. Unfortunately, the LifeBOAT Act and my other measures that would have made sure it was comprehensive, were not included. I will continue to fight for my other measures that will put real resources behind this fight to end the opioid epidemic because this fight is one we must win."

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, called the Senate vote "a victory for American families who are struggling with the disease of addiction."

"This is a historic moment - the first time in decades that Congress has passed comprehensive addiction legislation, and the first time Congress has ever supported long-term addiction recovery," Portman said.

The bill was designed to ensure that federal resources are focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery programs that have been tested and proven effective in local communities, Portman said.

The bill authorizes $181 million in new spending, with an expectation that lawmakers will approve nearly $500 million for opioid programs in the next budget year, he said.

The bill, which the U.S. House of Representative passed last week, includes the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., which would improve care for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, exposure to drugs during pregnancy.

"Every baby deserves the best chance possible for a healthy start to life, and my bill will help make this possible for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome," Jenkins said in a release. "These babies need specialized care and treatment to help them heal and ease the symptoms of withdrawal after birth By setting aside partisan differences and working together, we are sending the president legislation that will make a true difference in the lives of the most innocent victims of the drug crisis."

Democrats initially refused to endorse the final accord that House-Senate bargainers produced last week, complaining that it contained no actual money to finance its programs. Democrats sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Wednesday demanding that he schedule a vote soon to approve additional spending to combat opioid abuse.

The opioid bill "holds great promise for the fight against opioid use disorders," the Democrats said. "However, that promise - to help families coping with the devastating toll of this epidemic - can only be realized with real dollars needed to deliver life-saving prevention and treatment services."

Despite the letter, no Democratic senator opposed the bill. Republicans Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Mike Lee of Utah cast the only "no" votes.