WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Today, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan
21st Century Cures Act, which authorizes access to
$1 billion of funding to help
communities combat the opioid crisis. The bill also provides
long-overdue reforms to the mental health and criminal justice
systems. The legislation was approved in a landslide by the House
of Representatives, and now moves to President Obama's desk to be
signed into law.
Last week, NLC and the United States Conference of Mayors sent a
letter to the Senate urging swift passage of 21st
Century Cures Act. In response to its passage, National League
of Cities (NLC) President and Cleveland Councilmember Matt Zone
released the following statement:
"The National League of Cities applauds the passage of the
21st Century Cures Act, which is set to help cities
combat the growing opioid crisis that is gripping our nation. As
local officials, we are on the frontlines of this health pandemic –
one that leads to more deaths than car accidents. We have seen far
too many lives lost and families torn apart, and we must put an end
to it.
"While we are working tirelessly to reverse the trend of
substance use disorders, we know that the only way to effectively
stop the spread of this crisis is to work in collaboration with our
counterparts at the state and federal level. The Cures Act goes a
long way to lay the groundwork for strong partnerships at every
level of government, and it is our hope that before the
114th Congress adjourns, it will appropriate the
necessary funding authorized in the legislation. We look forward to
working with Congress and the administration to strengthen the
health and safety of our communities."
NLC has been at the forefront of efforts to combat the opioid
crisis. Earlier this year, NLC and the National Association of
Counties (NACo) launched the City-County National Task Force on the
Opioid Epidemic, which recently released the report, "A
Prescription for Action: Local Leadership in Ending the Opioid
Crisis." The report provides recommendations for how local
officials should address the opioid crisis, and explores how cities
and counties can strengthen collaboration with each other and
state, federal, private-sector and non-profit partners. Access the
full report.
About the National League of Cities
The National
League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build
better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000
cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million
Americans. www.nlc.org
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SOURCE National League of Cities