Senator’s Bipartisan Bill Establishing Federal Task Force Headed to President’s Desk for Signature
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) held a news conference call as his bipartisan bill to support grandparents now raising children in light of the opioid epidemic is headed to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. Congress passed the final version of the bill last week.
“We have a long way to go to support these families, but this bill is one step in the right direction,” said Brown. “We need to learn more about the challenges facing grandparents and other relatives in Ohio who have stepped up as caregivers, so we can support them as they raise these children.”
Grandparents are stepping up into a parenting role increasingly as parents overdose or enter recovery for addiction. In response to this trend, the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act would establish a federal task force to support grandparents raising grandchildren to identify, coordinate and share information and resources to help grandparents and other relatives who are stepping up to raise children meet the needs of kids in their care while maintaining their own health and well-being.
The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act is also sponsored by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
The formation of this task force complements the March spending bill that was signed into law, which includes funding to ramp up response to the opioid epidemic. The package includes $65 million to fund opioid detection devices and equipment called for in Brown’s INTERDICT Act, which President Trump signed into law earlier this year. The devices will help Customs and Border Agents detect and stop dangerous drugs like fentanyl before they enter the U.S.
Brown also worked to ensure that Ohio will be among the first in line to receive the opioid funding included in the agreement. Brown originally announced $6 billion in opioid funding as part of the long-term spending agreement Congress reached earlier this year. The spending package Congress passed allocates the first $3 billion of that money will be spent. At Brown’s urging, the package specifically prioritizes the hardest-hit states, like Ohio.