Alexander: Senate committee advances bill that could boost Tennessee's fight against opioids, meth

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., spoke on the Senate floor earlier this week about who's responsibile for Affordable Care Act insurance rate increases.
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., spoke on the Senate floor earlier this week about who's responsibile for Affordable Care Act insurance rate increases.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, said states like Tennessee could get a boost in their fight against the opioid crisis in a bill the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Alexander is the third ranking Republican member, approved today.

"This bill provides $482.5 million for Department of Justice grants to help states like Tennessee tackle the opioid crisis. States could use these grants to help fund their drug courts, educational efforts, law enforcement programs, recovery programs and treatment programs," Alexander said. "The bill also provides $18 million for meth and heroin lab cleanup in Tennessee and across the nation and ensures law enforcement has the tools they need to fight crime."

Alexander said another important aspect of the bill is the continued investment on federal science research, including upgrades at Oak Ridge National Laboratory near Knoxville.

The Fiscal Year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill provides:

  • $482.5 million for Department of Justice grants to help state and local partners tackle the opioid crisis, including $360 million as authorized by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act
  • $10 million for the Drug Enforcement Agency to support methamphetamine lab cleanup
  • $8 million for competitive grants for Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces
  • $37 million for the Regional Information Sharing Systems Program to assist law enforcement agencies in collecting and sharing information, supporting criminal investigations and promoting law enforcement officer safety
  • $8.07 billion for the National Science Foundation
  • $30.7 billion for the U.S. Department of Justice

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