Here’s how Massachusetts politicians responded to Trump’s opioid crisis declaration
Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency on Thursday. The declaration will last 90 days and allow the government to redirect resources, but it does not commit any extra federal money to fighting the crisis.
Here’s how Massachusetts politicians responded:
Governor Charlie Baker
Statement from the Office of Governor Charlie Baker on the federal government’s opioid announcement: https://t.co/LZOtc0Ac7I pic.twitter.com/o5Hkns45z7
— Charlie Baker (@MAGovArchive) October 26, 2017
Attorney General Maura Healey
President Trump’s announcement today on the #OpioidCrisis is woefully inadequate.
FULL STATEMENT: pic.twitter.com/NnShyPlIYy— AG Maura Healey Archived (@AGHealeyArchive) October 26, 2017
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas
https://twitter.com/nikiinthehouse/status/923571735215116289
Congressman Seth Moulton
.@POTUS is going against advice of HIS OWN opioid commission with such weak follow through on this. Incredible disregard for those in need. https://t.co/ezH2bdn9QN
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) October 26, 2017
#opioidcrisis @POTUS can’t have the best of both worlds. Yes, this is a a public health crisis. Let’s take action.
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) October 26, 2017
Enough talk of driving premiums up and coverage down – let’s focus on action now: making our communities healthier and safer. #opioidcrisis
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) October 26, 2017
I’m going to continue to focus on making sure Americans have healthcare coverage & access to treatment. #opioidcrisis
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) October 26, 2017
#OpiodCrisis Only 1 in 10 people with an opioid addiction is receiving the treatment he or she needs, largely due to a lack of insurance.
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) October 26, 2017
Congressman Joe Kennedy III
Adequate response requires greater access to Medicaid, #mentalhealth parity & @POTUS abandoning efforts to dismantle our health care system.
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) October 26, 2017
Senator Elizabeth Warren (via email)
“After months of inaction, President Trump has taken a step in the right direction by declaring that the opioid crisis sweeping our nation is an emergency – as Senator Murkowski and I urged him to do in a letter earlier this month. But the administration must do more to back up its commitments with action. States and communities need a significant increase in federal funding for existing opioid addiction programs – and today’s announcement from the President does not deliver those funds. If the President is serious about working with Congress to secure increased funding, he needs to get to work immediately and appoint a Health and Human Services Secretary who can follow through on these promises. I’ll be fighting to ensure that Massachusetts families get the help they need.”
