ASAM praised the House Appropriations Committee for including full funding for two new critical substance use disorder (SUD) workforce programs in its FY 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

ASAM commended Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representatives Elijah Cummings, and all original co-sponsors for introducing the CARE Act of 2019. Modeled on successful, bipartisan legislation passed in 1990 to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the CARE Act would authorize $100 billion in federal funding over the next decade to states, local governments, and other organizations and institutions to support substance use disorder treatment programs, improve training for addiction treatment professionals in communities across the US, and expand access to treatments that meet national standards and are proven to save lives. 

ASAM joined 145 members of the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose and other organizations in sending a letter voicing support for the CARE Act of 2019. This legislation 2019 would provide $100 billion in federal funding over the next ten years to support federal research and programs to prevent drug use while expanding access to prevention, harm reduction, addiction treatment, mental health services, and recovery support services.