PRINTER'S NO. 3935
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1027
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, D. COSTA, DiGIROLAMO, GAINEY, VEREB,
CALTAGIRONE, SAYLOR, PAYNE, SCHLOSSBERG, V. BROWN, WATSON,
SCHLEGEL CULVER, REGAN, DRISCOLL, BARRAR, LONGIETTI, KINSEY,
KIRKLAND, BOBACK, GIBBONS, YOUNGBLOOD, ROZZI, TOEPEL, SAVAGE
AND HARHAI, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Urging the President and the Congress of the United States to
restore $483 million of the Substance Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Block Grant funding for state and local governments
to restore the prevention and treatment programs that fight
every day to bring health and recovery to individuals
battling substance abuse.
WHEREAS, One thousand Americans are dying every week of drug
overdoses, the worst overdose epidemic in the history of
humanity; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 2,400 Pennsylvanians died of drug
overdoses in 2014 and approximately 3,500 Pennsylvanians died of
drug overdoses in 2015; and
WHEREAS, Each one of these unnecessary deaths represents
another shattered family of every demographic sentenced to a
lifetime of heartache and grief; and
WHEREAS, With the explosion of prescription drug, heroin and
methamphetamine abuse, our communities are suffering terribly
with unnecessary death and crime; and
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WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Health
and Human Services, resources that are currently provided are
only about 10% of the amount needed to adequately treat and
prevent substance abuse, leaving society vulnerable to one
epidemic after another; and
WHEREAS, Over the past decade, as the nation has descended
into the worst overdose epidemic in all of history, the Federal
Government has cut funding to the Substance Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Block Grant, which funds treatment and prevention
according to each state's needs, by 26% or $483 million; and
WHEREAS, Empty gestures, including passing more laws
addressing substance abuse without adequate funding, only result
in many thousands more lives lost, more crimes and more
suffering families; and
WHEREAS, If adequate resources are provided, treatment and
prevention work; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the President and the Congress
of the United States to restore $483 million of the Substance
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funding for state and
local governments to restore the prevention and treatment
programs that fight every day to bring health and recovery to
individuals battling substance abuse.
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