BREAKING: U.S. House Passes Rep. Angie Craig’s Bipartisan Bill to Fight Fentanyl Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Angie Craig’s bill to expand access to overdose prevention resources in a bipartisan vote.

Rep. Craig’s bipartisan RECONNECTIONS Act of 2023 will direct the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to expand their overdose prevention efforts – like bolstering prescription drug monitoring programs, promoting and evaluating community and health system interventions and conducting research on controlled substance overdoses.

The bill also categorizes the fentanyl crisis as a “new and emerging public health crisis.”

“The fentanyl crisis has touched every part of our district – I've heard from too many families who have been torn apart by this epidemic. That’s why I’m pushing so hard to make a change and why I’m so proud of the milestone we reached today,” said Rep. Craig. “I am committed to continuing this work, with members of both parties, to keep Minnesotans safe and healthy, and I urge the Senate to take this common-sense bill up as soon as possible.”

The RECONNECTIONS Act passed the House as part of the bipartisan SUPPORT Act.

Rep. Craig has been a leader in the fight to combat the opioid crisis, expand resources for law enforcement and improve addiction and recovery support in Congress.

Last week, Rep. Craig introduced the bipartisan Kid PROOF Actto expand access to lethal means safety supplies – like lockboxes and safes – for parents of children at risk of overdose or suicide.

Earlier this year, Rep. Craig successfully urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully approve over-the-counter distribution of Narcan, a medicine used to reverse overdoses.

Click here to read the RECONNECTIONS Act of 2023.

###