New York Daily News

Hey, Donald, why no ‘emergency’?

- Jason Silverstei­n

TWO SENATORS sent President Trump a reminder Thursday that he called America’s opioid epidemic “a national emergency” — but still hasn’t declared one 63 days later.

“We applaud your stated commitment to addressing opioid addiction and agree with you that the crisis is a ‘serious problem’ deserving increased federal resources,” Sens. Elizabeth Warren (DMass.) and Lisa Murkowski (RAlaska) wrote in a letter to Trump.

“However, we are extremely concerned that 63 days after your statement, you have yet to take the necessary steps to declare a national emergency on opioids, nor have you made any proposals to significan­tly increase funding to combat the epidemic.”

The senators — whose states have been hit particular­ly hard by the opioid plague — urged Trump to immediatel­y send recommenda­tions to his Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis for how to finally handle the emergency.

The White House did not respond.

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