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Lowey Applauds Obama's Bid To Secure $1.1B To Fight Opioid Abuse

NEW CITY, N.Y. – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) this week praised President Barack Obama’s proposal to spend $1.1 billion to address the opioid abuse and heroin epidemic.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), who has fought for federal funding to squash the heroin epidemic, this week applauded President Barack Obama's efforts to secure $1.1 billion to help devastated communities fight opioid abuse.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), who has fought for federal funding to squash the heroin epidemic, this week applauded President Barack Obama's efforts to secure $1.1 billion to help devastated communities fight opioid abuse.

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Lowey called it “the type of bold plan we need to prevent further heartache and protect teenagers, young adults, and families here in the Lower Hudson Valley.”

The opioid “scourge” has devastated communities all over the county “regardless of geography or socio-economic status,” said Lowey, who represents the 17th congressional district.

Lowey added that she, as the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, will fight to “ensure that the president’s proposals are funded.”

Last fall, Lowey announced that $1.8 million in grants from the National Drug Control Policy Drug-Free Communities Program would be used to help Westchester and Rockland communities prevent and reduce substance use.

She also announced in September, that more than a dozen local organizations would receive $1.7 million in federal grants for youth anti-substance abuse initiatives. Those initiatives, she said, would be administered through the same program.

In 2014, Lowey co-sponsored the Stop Overdose Stat Act as part of her fight to increase funding for programs that aimed to stem the heroin epidemic. And the year before, Lowey said, she helped secure $1.3 million in Drug Free Communities grants for 10 local organizations to prevent youth substance abuse.

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