Statement on Senator Rob Portman 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 Rob Portman didn’t treat this crisis with the urgency it demands until he was confronted by another urgent cause: his political career. Senator Portman may try to campaign on this issue but as the Ohio media have reported, the Senator has a history of trying to take credit for programs he’s actually voted against funding. So, Senator Portman should expect questions from Ohio voters about why he spent years proposing deep budget cuts for substance abuse treatment – including a budget he wrote for George Bush – and blocking funding for those programs.”

BACKGROUND:

PORTMAN VOTED WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY 92% OF THE TIME

Portman Voted With The Republican Party 92% Of The Time. According to CQ vote studies, Portman voted with the Republican Party 92% 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

PORTMAN VOTED FOR THE FY 2014 AND FY 2013 RYAN BUDGETS

Portman 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, PORTMAN 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: Portman Voted Against Expanding Coverage For Addiction Treatment, Increasing Resources For Substance Abuse Prevention And Treatment. In 2015, Portman 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]

FY2008 BUSH ADMINISTRATION BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDED NET FUNDING CUT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OF $159 MILLION

George W. Bush Administration’s FY2008 Budget Proposal Included $159.9 Million Net Funding Decrease For Substance Abuse Treatment And Prevention And Mental Health Services Provided Through SAMHSA.  “Overview of Budget Request – The FY 2008 President’s Budget totals $3,167,589,000, a decrease of $158,753,000 below the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution. It includes a net decrease of $76,630,000 for mental health; a net decrease of $36,441,000 for substance abuse prevention; a net decrease of $46,859,000 for substance abuse treatment; and an increase of $1,177,000 for program management. Targeted reductions are made in areas where grant periods are ending, activities can be supported through other funding streams or efficiencies can be realized. The budget eliminates funding for 18 programs within the three Programs of Regional and National Significance.” [FY2008 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services, approved 1/5/07]

• George W. Bush Administration’s FY2008 Budget Proposal Included Net Decrease Of $83 Million For Substance Abuse Treatment And Prevention Through The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “The FY 2008 Budget request for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is $3.2 billion, a net program level decrease of $159 million from the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution and $92 million below the FY 2007 President’s Budget…SUBSTANCE ABUSE Twenty-three million Americans struggle with a serious substance abuse problem for which treatment is needed. Substance abuse leads to lost productivity, domestic violence, child abuse, criminal involvement, and premature and preventable deaths. The FY 2008 Budget includes $2.3 billion, a decrease of $83 million, to support substance abuse prevention and treatment activities. The Budget makes targeted reductions in areas where grant periods are ending, activities can be supported through other funding streams, or efficiencies can be realized.” [HHS Budget in Brief, FY2008 President’s Budget for HHS, accessed 2/1/16]

• George W. Bush Administration’s FY2008 Budget Proposal Included Net Decrease Of $76.6 Million For Mental Health Through The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Overview of Budget Request – The FY 2008 President’s Budget totals $3,167,589,000, a decrease of $158,753,000 below the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution. It includes a net decrease of $76,630,000 for mental health; a net decrease of $36,441,000 for substance abuse prevention; a net decrease of $46,859,000 for substance abuse treatment; and an increase of $1,177,000 for program management. Targeted reductions are made in areas where grant periods are ending, activities can be supported through other funding streams or efficiencies can be realized. The budget eliminates funding for 18 programs within the three Programs of Regional and National Significance.” [FY2008 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services, approved 1/5/07]