As New Hampshire continues to battle a heroin epidemic, Senator Kelly Ayotte has refused to stand up against Senate Republicans’ proposal to cut more than $150 million in federal funding for drug abuse treatment and prevention.
Senator Ayotte admitted that the hyper-partisan Republican budget she voted for in March requires “hard choices,” and now it’s clear that includes deep cuts that will hurt New Hampshire’s efforts to combat the heroin epidemic.
“Senator Ayotte voted for a partisan Republican budget supported by her special interest backers, and now critical New Hampshire priorities including heroin treatment and prevention are being slashed,” said Sadie Weiner, DSCC National Press Secretary. “New Hampshire deserves better than a Senator who refuses to speak out as her party cuts federal funding necessary to address the most pressing public health and safety challenge facing New Hampshire.”
BACKGROUND
Senate Republican Labor-HHS Education And Related Agencies Appropriations Bill Cut $129.7 Million From Substance Abuse Treatment, Including A $50 Million Cut To Substance Abuse Block Grant Program For States, And $12 Million From Substance Abuse Prevention From FY15 Funding Levels Under SAMHSA. [Labor, Health And human Services, And Education, And Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 6/25/15]
Senate Republican-Labor-HHS Education And Related Agencies Appropriations Bill Cut $53.5 Million From Programs To Treat And Prevent Heroin And Prescription Drug Abuse Through Refusal To Provide Non-Defense Discretionary Sequestration Relief. [Labor, Health And human Services, And Education, And Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 6/25/15]
