Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
For your awareness, please be advised that USET SPF recently issued a letter of support of the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act of 2021 (CARE). USET SPF has supported this legislation since it was first introduced in 2018.
Introduced by Senator Warren (D. Mass) and by Representative Maloney (D-NY), the CARE Act will begin treating the substance-use crisis like the critical public health emergency it is. As you are likely aware, USET SPF Tribal Nations, and Tribal Nations across the country, continue to experience the destructive effects of substance use disorder--often at higher rates than non-Indian communities. The CARE Act of 2021 would ensure Tribal Nations, like other units of government, are well-equipped to combat the opioid epidemic and other substance use disorders in our communities. In total, this bill would provide $1 billion annually over a period of ten years directly to Indian Country to address the disproportionate impacts opioid abuse and addiction is having in our communities. This level of funding, and its delivery through Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act contracts and compacts, recognizes our governmental status and the unique relationship between the federal government and Tribal Nations.
For more information, we enclose a Tribal one-pager on the Act as well as a press release. USET SPF will continue to monitor the progress of the CARE Act and provide updates as they develop.
For more information, please contact Liz Malerba, USET SPF Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, at lmalerba@usetinc.org.
View USET SPF's Support Letter
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