Lawmakers call on states to explain their use of federal funds to curb opioid epidemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers – led by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) – is calling on the governors of 16 states to explain how their state has used billions of dollars in federal funding to combat the nation's opioid epidemic – and whether that funding is making a difference in some of the hardest-hit areas.

Specifically, the lawmakers – all of whom serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the nation's health care system – want to know how much money each state has received, how that money has been spent and whether it has helped to curb the epidemic there.

"The Committee is examining how these funds are being used by states to aid opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts," the lawmakers wrote. "Specifically, the Committee is interested in understanding what monies are reaching these states, how they are being deployed and prioritized, how such funds are being used to assist those suffering from substance use disorders, and what efforts are proving to be successful."

Congress passed several key pieces of legislation in recent years to help states address the opioid crisis – including the two most recent annual funding bills that provided states a total of $2.5 billion to address the crisis.

"States are on the front lines of this battle," the lawmakers wrote. "The continued magnitude of overdose deaths indicates that there is more work to be done."

In their letters, the lawmakers requested that each governor explain:

• How much federal funding for opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery their state has received since 2016?
• What challenges, if any, exist in deploying federal funds to local communities in an expedited manner?
• How does their state determine which local government entities receive federal grant funding?
• Do federally appropriated funds to address the opioid crisis provide their state with the flexibility to focus on the hardest hit regions or localities?
• What additional resources would be most helpful?

In addition to DeGette and Pallone, the letters were signed by U.S. Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY).

The letters were sent to the governors of Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The full text of the letter is available here.