In Sturgeon Bay and Kaukauna, Senator Baldwin Calls for Senate Vote on New Bipartisan Legislation to Fight the Opioid Crisis
Bipartisan reforms will prevent the flow of illegal fentanyl and opioids from other countries, support first responders with lifesaving naloxone, invest in local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, and provide more resources for growing meth problem
STURGEON BAY AND KAUKAUNA, WI – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin met with local law enforcement, first responders and community leaders in Sturgeon Bay and Kaukauna to discuss ways Washington can do more to support local efforts to fight illicit opioids, fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“Washington needs to step up and be a stronger partner to help local communities fight this crisis. Our Senate health committee just passed bipartisan legislation to give our communities more resources to save lives, and now it’s time to bring that legislation to the Senate floor and pass it,” said Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
As a member of the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Baldwin successfully worked to include key reforms in the bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018,which passed out of the committee in April and is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.
Senator Baldwin has also helped introduce the bipartisan Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act That directly supports rural emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in training and recruiting staff and purchasing equipment like naloxone.
Senator Baldwin was joined at the roundtable in Sturgeon Bay today by Mayor Thad Birmingham, Police Chief Arleigh Porter, Administrator Josh Van Lieshout, Door County Administrator Ken Pabich, Director of Human Services Joe Krebsbach and Kewaunee County Sheriff Mathew Joski.
Senator Baldwin was joined at the roundtable in Kaukauna by Mayor Tony Penterman, Fire Chief Paul Hirte, Assistant Fire Chiefs Don Grindheim and Craig Schneider, Lieutenant Cody Foss, and Kaukauna firefighters and driver operators.
Methamphetamine abuse has been sharply rising in Northeast Wisconsin, in particular. According to a recent report by the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, Outagamie and Calumet counties were among the ten counties with the largest meth case increases between 2011 and 2015.
“The Senate health committee just passed my bipartisan legislation to help stop the flow of illicit drugs- like fentanyl, meth and illegal opioids- from coming into America from other countries. My legislation gives the federal government more tools to prevent these drugs from entering the US at the border through our International Mail Facilities,” said Senator Baldwin. “I also worked to provide states with more flexibility using federal funding so Wisconsin will be able to put it to work addressing the growing problem of meth abuse in northeast Wisconsin.”
An online version of this release is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- Baldwin Backed Legislation to Crack Down on Fentanyl Traffickers Heads to President’s Desk - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Apr 24th, 2024
- Legislature Stalls Opioid Settlement Funds. Again - Erik Gunn - Apr 23rd, 2024
- Milwaukee Bucks Legend Marques Johnson Joins Forces with Serenity Inns to Combat Opioid Epidemic in Milwaukee - Serenity Inns - Apr 23rd, 2024
- Law Enforcement Agencies Awarded Grants from State Opioid Settlement Funds - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Apr 18th, 2024
- MKE County: County Wins Award for Opioid Settlement Fund Usage - Graham Kilmer - Apr 4th, 2024
- MKE County: County Offering $2.8 Million For Opioid Addiction Programs - Graham Kilmer - Mar 28th, 2024
- Senator Baldwin Calls on House to Pass Bill that Cracks Down on Fentanyl Traffickers - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Feb 15th, 2024
- Attorney General Josh Kaul announces $350 million settlement with marketing firm over its role in opioid epidemic - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Feb 1st, 2024
- Grants Will Fund Recovery Housing For Those Facing Homelessness and Battling Opioids - Margaret Faust - Jan 12th, 2024
- Baldwin Helps Advance Bipartisan Bill to Address Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Dec 14th, 2023
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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