Statement on Senator Richard Burr and the Senate Substance Abuse Bill

DSCC National Press Secretary Lauren Passalacqua released the following statement on the election year passage of the senate drug abuse bill:

“The bipartisan substance abuse legislation the Senate passed today follows years of advocacy from health professionals, law enforcement officials, community leaders, families and patients. It’s unfortunate that Senator Richard Burr hasn’t treated this crisis with the urgency it demands until he was confronted by another urgent cause: his political career. Senator Burr’s record of voting against funding for substance abuse and treatment programs stands in stark contrast to his election year support for this bill. He should expect questions from North Carolinians about why he spent years standing with the Republican Party to block funding for those programs.”

BACKGROUND:

BURR VOTED WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY 95% OF THE TIME

Burr Voted With Republican Party 95% Of The Time. According to CQ vote studies of party unity, Burr voted with the Republican Party 95% of the time during his congressional tenure. [CQ Vote Studies]

PREVIOUS REPUBLICAN BUDGETS PROPOSED CUTTING IMPORTANT PROGRAMS FOR ADDRESSING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY MORE THAN $1.5 BILLION

BURR VOTED FOR THE FY 2014 AND FY 2013 RYAN BUDGETS

Burr Voted For The FY 2014 And FY 2013 Ryan Budgets. [CQ, 3/21/13; S.Amdt. 433 to S.Con.Res. 8, Vote 46, 3/21/13; CQ,5/16/12; H.Con.Res. 112, Vote 98, 5/16/12]

IN FY 2014, THE RYAN BUDGET PROPOSED TO CUT CRITICAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS BY NEARLY $802 MILLION IN ONE YEAR ALONE

The Republicans FY14 budget would’ve enacted a drastic 20% cut in non-defense discretionary programs that would improve the response to the heroin and opioid epidemics.  In 2014 alone, the Ryan budget would cut funding for these programs by an additional 20% beyond the cuts already needed to comply with the BCA caps. This across-the-board cut is calculated relative to what funding would be compared to the BCA caps in FY14.   The Senate-drafted appropriations bills for FY14 were drafted with the intent of replacing sequester, and are used as the baseline funding levels.  [CBPP, 3/27/13]

• Ryan Budget Threatened Large Cuts To Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services. “Major health and environment programs threatened with large cuts under the Ryan budget include: […] Mental health and substance abuse services. These grants help states prevent and treat alcohol and drug abuse and provide community mental health services to adults and children with serious mental illness. In 2008, over two million individuals attended substance abuse facilities that received federal funding; over six million received federally supported mental health services.” [CBPP, 3/27/13]

IN FY 2013, THE RYAN BUDGET PROPOSED TO CUT CRITICAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS BY MORE THAN $763 MILLION IN ONE YEAR ALONE

The Republicans FY13 budget would’ve enacted a drastic 19% cut in non-defense discretionary programs that would improve the response to the heroin and opioid epidemics.  The 19% cut is calculated by taking the level Congress agreed to in the Budget Control Act for non-defense discretionary programs in 2013 and subtracting the proposed $406 billion cap for 2014 in the House Republican Budget. That’s a $95 billion cut that, when left undistributed, is a 19% cut to the 2012 level of services in every non-defense discretionary program. [WH, 4/6/12]

IN DECEMBER, BURR VOTED DOWN AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET THAT WOULD HAVE PUT OVER $15 BILLION BEHIND ANTI-DRUG MEASURES BY MAKING MILLIONAIRES PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE IN TAXES

Dec. 2015: Burr Voted Against Expanding Coverage For Addiction Treatment, Increasing Resources For Substance Abuse Prevention And Treatment. In 2015, Burr voted against: “Shaheen, D-N.H., motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Enzi, R-Wyo., point of order against the Shaheen, D-N.H, amendment no. 2892 to the McConnell, R-Ky., substitute amendment no. 2874. The Shaheen amendment would require qualified health care plans to provide coverage for more than one FDA-approved addiction-treatment drug and would create a Substance Use and Mental Health Capacity Expansion Fund. The substitute, instead of repealing the 2010 health law’s requirements for most individuals to obtain health coverage and employers to offer health insurance or face tax penalties, would remove the law’s penalties for noncompliance. The substitute also would reinstate in 2025 the tax on certain high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans, which would be repealed under the bill, and would add a provision that would force individuals to pay back the full amount of any subsidy overpayments.” The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 47-52. [CQ Floor Votes, 12/3/15; HR 3762, Vote 317,12/3/15]

• Senator Shaheen: Amendment “Provides Over $15 Billion Of Needed Funding To States And Municipalities” Including Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants. In a Senate floor statement, Senator Shaheen said: “Finally, this amendment provides over $15 billion of needed funding to States and municipalities to help address the public health emergency in those States and communities that are the frontlines of this crisis. Through the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grants and the community mental health service block grants, this service is targeted to those most at risk for substance abuse and mental illness, giving the States flexibility to develop and fund programs that work best for them. This prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse and mental health disorders have the potential to make the difference in millions of lives.” [Congressional Record, Senate Floor, 12/3/15]

• The Measure Was Paid For By Ending Tax Breaks For Millionaires And Corporate Offshoring. “Senator Shaheen’s amendment is fully paid-for by enacting the Buffett Rule, preventing corporations from moving offshore to avoid paying taxes, and closing tax loopholes that allow corporations to write-off executive bonuses.” [Office Of Sen. Shaheen Press Release, 12/3/15]