Joco Today

Last week, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Andy Barr (R-KY-06) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act, which helps address the impact of substance abuse on America’s workforce. This bill would make improvements to a program that supports individuals recovering from substance use disorder, ensuring they can reenter the workforce and maintain gainful employment.

“Substance abuse has affected far too many Kansas families, and we must ensure those recovering from addiction are supported and have access to good-paying jobs,” said Davids. “I’m proud to join Representative Barr in leading the CAREER Act, which enables folks recovering from substance abuse to find employment and live independently. There are so many local organizations who walk alongside our neighbors in recovery, and I’m proud to support their mission.”

“The CAREER Act has been instrumental in fostering workforce development, vocational training, and the acquisition of vital skills within our communities. By renewing its authorization, we will amplify the efficacy and influence of this essential program, guaranteeing that American workers possess the necessary tools to succeed in the dynamic job market of the 21st century,” said Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-06). “Given the ongoing struggles our nation faces due to substance abuse, it is imperative that we prioritize assistance and allocate resources for individuals seeking recovery. I am appreciative of the opportunity to collaborate with Congresswoman Davids on this pivotal legislation.”

In 2018, the CAREER Act was included in the bipartisan SUPPORT For Patients and Communities Act, legislation signed into law to empower local communities and law enforcement to fight the opioid epidemic. Now, the CAREER Act would reauthorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Treatment, Recovery and Workforce Support Grant Program, which directs award recipients to determine workforce gaps and coordinate employment and training activities for participants. The reauthorization would also increase funding for the program and allow the grants to be used for transportation between work, training, and recovery services.

Davids has made it a priority to address the opioid and fentanyl epidemic head-on. She hosted multiple summits with law enforcement and health care workers on combatting the fentanyl epidemic and has taken a number of legislative actions based on the specific needs of the Kansas Third District, including:

• Joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request funding for new handheld mass spectrometry trace level chemical detection devices at domestic ports.
• Voting for bipartisan legislation that would restrict access to fentanyl and provide greater resources to local law enforcement to combat its use in Kansas.
• Urging the FDA to take up expert recommendations and make Narcan, a common naloxone nasal spray, available without a prescription—which they did earlier this year.
• Hosting a Facebook Live conversation with Blue Valley School District and Johnson County Mental Health Center about opioid use in schools.

Original source can be found here.