A bill aimed at addressing the country’s opioid addiction crisis is filled with provisions supported by members of both parties in Congress, but Democrats are threatening to block passage of the legislation unless Republicans agree to add more funding for treatment initiatives in the final draft.
The bill supported by Republican leadership includes only $85 million for treatment programs over the next five years. Democrats say that figure should be increased more than elevenfold, to $940 million.
Just a few months ago, when the Senate passed the original incarnation of the bill, Democrats unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to increased funding to $600 million. That proposal was supported by several moderate Republicans in the midst of tough reelection battles this fall, but was not embraced by GOP leadership.
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