After Casey pushes, heroin epidemic gets needed funding

As the Senate passed sweeping health reform legislation today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced several major wins in the 21st Century Cures Act he advocated for on behalf of Pennsylvanians, including $1 billion to help states respond to the opioid abuse epidemic. Casey has long been an outspoken advocate in addressing the heroin crisis, leading several key pieces of legislation to passage to provide more funding and training in handling heroin abuse. He has also spent the last two years traveling across Pennsylvania to meet with health providers, law enforcement officials, and families impacted by the epidemic.

“This critically important legislation includes several key provisions that will help to improve the health and overall lives of Pennsylvanians, including funding to address the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic,” Senator Casey said. “The crisis of opioid addiction gripping our nation knows no bounds; it impacts families everywhere, from cities to suburban communities to rural areas and everywhere in between. While this legislation will help states to further respond to this epidemic, we still have more work to do. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue to address this crisis.”

The legislation includes increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the next ten years and incentives for medical countermeasure development, priorities Casey has consistently championed. Casey also took the lead in ensuring further extension of the pediatric priority review voucher program, established by his Creating Hope Act, and then extended by the Advancing Hope Act.