Baldwin’s Bipartisan Bill to Combat Fentanyl Crisis and Support First Responders Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that her Safe Response Act, bipartisan legislation to respond to the fentanyl crisis and deliver first responders with training and tools to prevent drug overdose deaths, passed out of the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk.

“One life lost to the fentanyl and opioid epidemic is one too many, and I am doing everything I can to stop this crisis. Our law enforcement and first responders are on the front lines every day fighting the fentanyl crisis in Wisconsin, and it’s my job to make sure they have the resources they need to save lives,” said Senator Baldwin. “When first responders have both the access and proper training to use lifesaving tools like Narcan, it helps stop Wisconsin families from losing a loved one too soon. I’m glad to see my bipartisan bill that will deliver these resources now heads to the President’s desk and is one step closer to becoming law.”

Baldwin’s bipartisan Safe Response Act was included in the SUPPORT Act and would reauthorize a grant program to provide funding for states, local government entities, Indian Tribes, and tribal organizations to train and provide resources to first responders to respond to an overdose. The Safe Response Act provides $57 million per year for fiscal year 2026 through 2030 for grants to first responders and those in key community sectors to respond to overdoses.

The bipartisan SUPPORT Act invests in addiction prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts. The legislation passed the House with strong bipartisan support in June, passed the Senate unanimously today, and now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. In addition to the Safe Response Act, the SUPPORT Act also includes the following Baldwin-backed legislation:

• Bruce’s Law – Bipartisan legislation to bolster federal prevention and education efforts surrounding fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid that is increasingly being incorporated into illicit street drugs and fake prescription pills.
• Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act – Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ongoing initiative to eliminate the risk of infectious disease caused by substance use disorder to continue through 2028.
• FASD Respect Act – Bipartisan legislation to collect data collection on prenatal smoking, alcohol, and other substance misuse, in addition to the outcomes associated with such activities on children’s health.

A one-pager on the Safe Response Act is available here. Full text of this legislation is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.