Battling Opioids
Congressman Fred Upton has long been committed to taking action on the tragic opioid abuse epidemic that has hit communities here in Southwest Michigan and across the country. In response, Fred has led the charge to pass bipartisan legislation to address this epidemic.
In 2016, the House and the Senate passed, and the president signed into law, a sweeping package of laws aimed at attacking the opioid epidemic from all sides. This critical legislation included more than a dozen bills passed by the Energy and Commerce Committee and Fred proudly chaired the House and Senate Conference Committee that finalized the comprehensive package.
Additionally, as part of Fred’s landmark 21st Century Cures Act, an additional $1 billion was allocated to states to address opioid addiction treatment and prevention. The first round of federal funding was approved in April and Michigan was on the receiving end of more than $16 million in grant funding. This funding will have a real impact on those suffering from this addiction. The second round of federal funding was approved in March with Michigan again on the receiving end of more than $16 million in additional grant funding.
Please see below for more information:
Action
March 26, 2015: Upton, Subcommittee Focus on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse
August 28, 2015: Upton Speaks at Anti-Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse Event at St. Joseph High School
April 21, 2016: VIDEO: Upton Makes Important Announcement Regarding Work to Address the Opioid Epidemic
May 13, 2016: Upton, House Act on Opioid and Heroin Epidemic
May 17, 2016: Upton to Lead House Effort to Finalize Opioid Package with Senate
July 8, 2016: Upton Statement on Opioid Conference Report Passage
July 14, 2016: Upton Takes Part in Enrollment Ceremony for Opioid Legislation
July 23, 2016: Sweeping Bipartisan Opioid Package Now Law
December 13, 2016: 21st Century Cures Signed into Law
March 1, 2017: Upton Leads Panel Discussion on Opioids at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
March 29, 2017: Upton Applauds Creation of New Commission to Battle Opioid Addiction
April 20, 2017: Upton: ‘Help is on the way’ in Opioid Epidemic Fight
October 26, 2017: Upton Applauds Administration for Declaring Nationwide Public Health Emergency to Address Opioid Crisis
February 16, 2018: Upton, Dingell Introduce Bill to Address Opioid Epidemic, Spur Development of Non-Addictive Pain Medication
March 22, 2018: Upton Statement on Passage of Omnibus (additional funding to fight the opioid epidemic signed into law).
April 19, 2018: Upton: Second Round of Grants to Fight Opioid Epidemic on the Way
April 23, 2018: Upton Video PSA: Prescription Drug Takeback Day is Saturday
May 9, 2018: Upton-Dingell Opioid Legislation Advances
June 12, 2018: Upton-Dingell Opioid Legislation Clears U.S. House
June 14, 2018: Upton Votes to Halt Overseas Shipment of Synthetic Opioids
June 22, 2018: Upton, House Advance Major Opioid Crisis Package
August 29, 2018: Upton Announces Two Local Opioid Grants
September 28, 2018: Upton Champions Groundbreaking Opioids Package
News:
MLive: Grants issued to fight drug abuse in Kalamazoo, Allegan counties
MLive: Stryker shows U.S. Rep. Fred Upton devices targeting opioid epidemic
MLive: U.S. Rep. Fred Upton listens to opioid concerns with Kalamazoo panel
WOOD TV: Upton addresses opioid crisis during Kzoo visit
WDET: Rep. Fred Upton and Rep. Debbie Dingell Team Up to Battle Opioid Addiction
Detroit News: Bill would boost efforts to find opioid alternatives
USA TODAY: House passes sweeping health innovation bill with $1 billion for opioids
Holland Sentinel: Michigan Receives $16M in federal funding to battle opioid addiction
MLive: ‘Help is on the way’ in opioid addiction fight, says Rep. Fred Upton
Detroit News: Anti-opioid abuse bill backed by Upton clears House
Herald Palladium: Trying to get ahead of the opioid crisis
Washington Examiner: Trump hosts GOP lawmakers for meeting on opioid abuse
Holland Sentinel: Congress aims at opioid crisis with legislation to reform treatment, increase funding
WSJM: Upton Testifies About Opioid Epidemic
WSJM: Upton Calls for Additional Anti-Opioid Funding
WSBT 22: Local leaders react to President Trump's opioid announcement
Op-eds
Upton and Dingell in the Detroit Free Press: Prioritize alternatives to addictive painkillers to fight opioid crisis
Upton in the Herald Palladium: Help is on the way in opioid epidemic fight
Upton in the South Bend Tribune: Addressing the opioid crisis
Upton in the Detroit News: We can’t arrest our way out of the opioid epidemic
Upton on Medium: How Congress addressed the opioid crisis
Upton, Bishop, and Trott in the Detroit News: How we’re combating opioid abuse
Upton and Walberg in Morning Consult: Multi-Pronged Apprach Needed in Opioid Fight
Recognitions
Upton recognized by the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose for his bipartisan work to fight opioid epidemic
