5 bipartisan accomplishments of the 115th Congress

By Samuel Smith, Deputy Managing Editor Wednesday, January 02, 2019

Opioid epidemic

In October, Trump signed a sweeping package of legislation designed to tackle the nation’s opioid epidemic.

The bill is called the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.

“Together we are going to end the scourge of drug addiction,” Trump said at the signing ceremony at the White House. “Or at least make an extremely big dent in this terrible, terrible problem.”

Among other things, the bill will help stop synthetic opioids and illegal drugs from crossing into the U.S. and will provide states with the tools to prevent addiction before it takes hold of victims.

The bill will allow for more investment into non-addictive painkillers and research in mental-health factors that could contribute to addiction.

The bill has been labeled by one of its sponsors as being the “most important new health care law this year.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called it “landmark legislation.”

The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 98-1.