In March 2016, the US. Senate approved bipartisan legislation to address the opioid and heroin abuse epidemic devastating communities across the country. The bill, known as S. 524, The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA),  expanded drug abuse education and prevention. It also provided better resources to help first responders fight this crisis and save lives. The opioid crisis has impacted a number of Nebraska counties including: Adams, Buffalo, Hall, Lincoln and Scotts Bluff:

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Sen. Fischer released a statement on the legislation: “Our nation is facing an alarming crisis as heroin and opioid addiction grow across the country. Families are losing sons, daughters, parents, and friends to this devastating epidemic. Nebraska is not immune to this surge, as the rates of arrests and overdoses in our state have increased in recent years. I am proud to join my colleagues once again and pass significant, bipartisan legislation that can help save lives and improve the nation.”

But during debate on the bill, Fischer voted against a key amendment by Sen. Shaheen (D-NH), to add $600 million in emergency funds to address the heroin and opioid drug abuse epidemic for the FY ending 9/30/16. The amendment was defeated on a vote of 48 (Y) to 47 (N) due to obstruction from the Republican majority – the amendment needed to meet a 60 vote threshold to proceed.

Senator Shaheen’s emergency funding amendment would have helped the following federal programs:

Department of Justice

  • Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne-JAG) – $230 million to fund state and local law enforcement initiatives associated with the heroin and opioid crisis, including approved treatment alternatives to incarceration.
  • COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force Grant – $10 million to assist state and local law enforcement with high per-capita levels of opioid and heroin use, targeting resources to support police drug interdiction operations on the ground (Section 204 of CARA).

Department of Health and Human Services

  • Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant- $300 million for states to fund programs related to prevention, treatment, recovery support and other services associated with the heroin and opioid crisis. For many states, this program is the primary source of federal dollars to address the misuse of drugs. This section also includes $15 million set aside specifically to improve treatment for pregnant and postpartum women (Section 501 of CARA).
  • Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention for States- $50 million to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) work on prescription drug monitoring programs, community health system interventions, and rapid response projects.
  • Medication Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction – $10 million to improve access in high-risk communities to medication-assisted treatment services for heroin and prescription opioids (Section 301 of CARA).

There is another disturbing connection to Fischer’s vote against the Shaheen amendment. It seems Fischer is addicted to campaign contributions from two of the three largest opioid distributors in America. In 2024, Fischer has taken $1,500 from AmerisourceBergen and she has pocketed $2,500 in 2018 and another $5,000 in 2012 from McKesson Corporation. Source: www.opensecrets.org