President Obama will sign major legislation tackling the opioid crisis, but he isn’t happy about it.
The White House said that Obama will sign the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which the Senate passed by an overwhelming 92-2 margin Wednesday.
However, Obama remains perturbed that the bill doesn’t include $925 million in additional funding for expanding treatment options for opioid addicts.
“We continue to believe this bill falls short,” according to a statement from White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest late Wednesday.
Earnest said “some action is better than none” and that Obama will sign the bill but continue to fight for more treatment-recovery funding.
“Congressional Republicans have not done their jobs until they provide the funding for treatment that communities need to combat this epidemic,” Earnest said.
The bill seeks to expand access to the overdose antidote naloxone, expand treatment for addicts and increase education to ensure doctors prescribe opioids properly.
