Shaheen Presses RFK Jr. on Refusal to Protect Program Key to Turn the Tide on Substance Use Disorder Crisis

**In a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, RFK Jr. refused to commit to preserving the State Opioid Response grant that has saved lives in the Granite State**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee,spoke in a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing about the risk federal funding cuts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pose topositive progress toward ending the substance use disorder crisis. In his responses to Shaheen’s questions, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to commit to preserving the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant—a program Shaheen has championed that has been instrumental in helping reduce overdose deaths in the Granite State.You can watch Senator Shaheen’s remarks and questionshere.
Key quotes from Senator Shaheen:
Senator Shaheen has led efforts to address the substance use crisis, including by defending and increasing funding for SOR grants. Just last year, Shaheencelebrated$29,890,890 in SOR grants heading to New Hampshire. In recent years, Shaheen successfully pushed HHS to maintain SOR funding levels for New Hampshire and avoid significant cliffs in funding year-over-year. Shaheen’s efforts have led to a more thantenfold increasein federal treatment and prevention funding for New Hampshire.
Shaheen has been vocal in her disapproval of the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS Secretary, includingdelivering remarks in oppositionto his nomination on the Senate floor. Shaheen also recently called on Secretary Kennedy to reverse drastic funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator program, which helps Americans access quality, affordable health insurance coverage, including for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
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