Sen. Hassan Presses White House for Details on New Inter-Agency Body on Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The office of Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release:

Senator Maggie Hassan today sent a letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy asking for details on the Administration's proposed inter-agency body on the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis.

The administration recently announced that the Office of Science and Technology Policy will convene an inter-agency body to facilitate efforts across federal government agencies on health, science, and technology in response to the crisis, as well as develop a research and development (R&D) roadmap designed to enhance the national opioid response.

"As you know, the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid epidemic represents a serious public health and safety threat to communities across our nation," Senator Hassan wrote to Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios. "Therefore, the federal government must use all means necessary to combat this crisis and provide aid to those who need it.

"While I have deep concerns about whether the Trump Administration's Fiscal Year 2019 budget adequately addresses the deadly opioid crisis in our country, I was pleased to see the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will convene an inter-agency body to facilitate efforts across federal government agencies on health, science, and technology in response to the crisis," Senator Hassan added.

In the letter, Senator Hassan asks for responses to the following questions:

* How does OSTP plan to proceed with the development and coordination of an inter-agency body without a Director of OSTP in place to properly oversee this initiative?

* What is the timeline of the inter-agency body for convening and providing support to other federal agencies on addressing the opioid epidemic?

* What is the timeline for the OSTP-led inter-agency body to come up with an R&D roadmap to enhance the national opioid response?

* Will the inter-agency body have a mechanism for soliciting advice from experts outside the federal government?

* Which federal agencies will be involved in the group?

* Does OSTP need additional resources to carry out this working group?

Click here (https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/180306.OSTP.Opioids.Ltr.pdf) for a PDF copy of the letter or see below for the full text:

March 6, 2018

Mr. Michael Kratsios

Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

1650 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20504

Dear Mr. Kratsios;

As you know, the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid epidemic represents a serious public health and safety threat to communities across our nation. An estimated 2.6 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, with rates rising nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 42,000 people died from opioid-involved overdoses in 2016 alone. Therefore, the federal government must use all means necessary to combat this crisis and provide aid to those who need it.

While I have deep concerns about whether the Trump Administration's Fiscal Year 2019 budget adequately addresses the deadly opioid crisis in our country, I was pleased to see the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will convene an inter-agency body to facilitate efforts across federal government agencies on health, science, and technology in response to the crisis. It is my understanding that this group will also develop a research and development (R&D) roadmap designed to enhance the national opioid response.

As a former Governor, I have seen firsthand how critical coordination and collaboration across agencies is when meeting our toughest challenges. With this in mind, I request a response to the following questions by March 20, 2018:

* How does OSTP plan to proceed with the development and coordination of an inter-agency body without a Director of OSTP in place to properly oversee this initiative?

* What is the timeline of the inter-agency body for convening and providing support to other federal agencies on addressing the opioid epidemic?

* What is the timeline for the OSTP-led inter-agency body to come up with an R&D roadmap to enhance the national opioid response?

* Will the inter-agency body have a mechanism for soliciting advice from experts outside the federal government?

* Which federal agencies will be involved in the group?

* Does OSTP need additional resources to carry out this working group?