Senate Passes Two Scott Bills in Landmark Opioid Crisis Package

WASHINGTON—Earlier this week, the United States Senate passed a sweeping package of bills to combat the opioid crisis plaguing the United States. Two bills lead by U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) to strengthen family treatment and recovery were included as part of the package:

“While we were faced with and continue to prepare for new challenges posed by Hurricane Florence back home in South Carolina, I am glad to see that the Senate continued its job in ensuring that our country’s families are equipped to combat the epidemic of opioid abuse,” Senator Scott said.

“This nationwide plague has led to the deaths of 49,000 Americans in 2017. Of that, 748 people from South Carolina died—a 21 percent increase over 2016 numbers. It is important for us to understand that this killer is among us and that no one is immune to addiction. Thankfully, two of my bills were included in the package, and I look forward to seeing the scourge of opioid abuse decrease as this legislation is implemented.”

Below are the two Scott bills passed in the Opioid Crisis Response Act: 

• The Supporting Family-Focused Residential Treatment Act (S. 2924): This bill calls on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop guidance for states on potential avenues for family-focused residential treatment programs and substance use disorder programs that allow children to remain with their parents or guardians during treatment. Read the bill here.
• The Improving Recovery and Reunifying Families Act (S. 2926): This bill would provide support and evaluation to projects using recovery coaching to help reunify families and protect children through HHS. Read the bill here.

Senator Scott is also a cosponsor of the STOP Act of 2018 (S. 3057). This provision creates new requirements for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) regarding the transmittal of Advance Electronic Data to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in addition to calling for enhanced coordination efforts between the USPS and CBP, in order to better secure international mail and curb shipments of illicit substances. Read the bill here.

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