Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf expressed full support to the legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Bob Casey to address Opioid Epidemic.
In a statement, Gov. Wolf implored the Congress quickly pass Sen. Casey’s proposed legislation. The Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act has several co-sponsors including Senators Ed Markey, Dianne Feinstein, Elizabeth Warren, Angus King among others.
Under the bill, the Congress will appropriate $4.5 billion for programs to fight opioid epidemic over the next decade. This proposal is similar to the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) of 2017 introduced by Republicans.
When Sen. Casey introduced the legislation last month, he said, “This epidemic knows no bounds. Whether impacting children, parents, or grandparents, the opioid crisis continues to grow in its intensity and its harm”
According to the senator, it is imperative to “commit resources” to help states and local governments address the problem effectively.
The federal government must be a bigger partner to combat opioid epidemic
According to Gov. Wolf, “In Pennsylvania, our efforts to save lives and get people into treatment are making a difference.” However, he emphasized that the federal government must be a bigger partner to resolve the problem.
