On March 26, 2026, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing titled “Policies to Protect Our Communities from Illicit Drug Threats.” The hearing discussed 14 bills that aim to reduce overdoses and improve substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services and addiction research.  In the hearing, members of Congress agreed on a bipartisan basis that addiction should be treated as a disease using community-based care. House members highlighted that communit

Addiction Policy Forum joined 330 national, state, and local organizations in support of continued funding of the Second Chance Act in the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.  The sign-on letter urges Congress to continue funding for Second Chance Act recidivism reduction and reentry programs. Second Chance Act programs provide individuals reentering the community with services, including housing, job training, education, sub

The Addiction Policy Forum joined a national letter of support for continued funding of the Second Chance Act in the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.  The national sign-on letter calls on Congress to maintain funding for these proven reentry initiatives, which help individuals successfully reintegrate by increasing access to housing, employment, behavioral health care, and other essential services. Ongoing support will ens

On January 20, 2026, the Senate released a “minibus” legislation appropriation package that included four spending bills, including the  fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS). The Labor HHS bill provides key funding for substance use and mental health agencies and programs across the country. The Senate proposal reflects continued bipartisan support for community-based prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts, w

On October 9, 2025, the Senate passed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 ( S. 1843 ) as an amendment, sponsored by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) . The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 would continue critical recidivism-reduction and reentry services nationwide, including substance use disorder treatment. The NDAA passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 77-20. The bill now moves to the House for

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Halting the Epidemic of Addiction and Loss (HEAL) Act  on September 18th, sending it to the...

On September 18th, the U.S. Senate passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483)  by unanimous...

Addiction Policy Forum led the national endorsement letter with over 100 national, state, and local organizations in support of reauthorizing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.2540)  to extend the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Grant Program (COSSUP). COSSUP provides financial and technical assistance to state and local governments to  implement tailored evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) prevent

On July 22nd, Congressmen Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) reintroduced the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act of 2025...