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Portman Hopeful on Anti-Drug Legislation
By: Associated Press
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CINCINNATI (AP) – Ohio’s Republican senator says he thinks the nation’s opioid abuse crisis will transcend election-year politics as Congress tries to work out compromise legislation on the problem.
Rob Portman on Monday toured First Step Home, which provides residential treatment and out-patient programs for addicted mothers. Portman is a chief sponsor of a Senate-passed bill aimed at a range of issues including prevention, treatment and law enforcement help. The House just passed a slew of bills on varied aspects of the problem, although critics say the measures lack funding to get much done.
Portman says he thinks the issue hits home for so many across the country that there will be bipartisan support for “taking a step in the right direction.”
President Barack Obama has proposed another $1.1 billion for the problem.