María Elvira Salazar bill battling substance abuse, homelessness passes in omnibus

More help is coming to communities struggling with substance abuse, thanks to legislation U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar backed with others.

The measure (HR 7234) reauthorizes programs to combat the opioid epidemic and reduce homelessness through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

President Joe Biden ratified the measure as part of the $1.7 trillion omnibus funding the federal government through Oct. 1.

Democratic Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger filed the measure in March with co-sponsorship from Salazar, North Dakota Republican Kelly Armstrong and Arizona Democrat Tom O’Halleran. It failed to pass on its own and was later absorbed into larger bills.

– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics