Salinas Calls on McCarthy to Reject Partisanship, Prioritize Funding to Fight Fentanyl Crisis

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) delivered a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, calling on him to reject attempts by the far-right House Freedom Caucus to politicize the Appropriations Process. Specifically, Salinas points out that partisan attempts to inject the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill with anti-LGBTQ2SIA+ and anti-choice “riders” will stall the passage of critical funds needed to combat the fentanyl crisis in Oregon and across the U.S. 

“Injecting the FY 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill, and other key funding bills, with anti-LGBTQ2SIA+ and anti-choice riders isn’t just morally reprehensible – it’s downright dangerous,” writes Salinas. “It diminishes the likelihood of this bill’s passage, jeopardizing much-needed funds and resources that could be put to good use in the most at-risk communities.”

Fentanyl and other highly-addictive, synthetic opioids accounted for nearly 88% of all opioid-involved deaths in 2021, up by more than 22% from 2020 to 2021. In Oregon alone, the amount of seized fentanyl in high intensity drug trafficking areas increased from 690 counterfeit pills in 2018 to more than 2 million in 2022.

“Now more than ever, we must unite behind bold, bipartisan efforts to curb the spread of fentanyl and the synthetic opioids at the heart of this disturbing trend,” continues Salinas. “Congress cannot afford to delay – nor can it afford to be hijacked by partisan extremists who continue to stand in the way of progress.”

To read the full letter, click here.