Strickland Opioid Bill Joins Health Equity Accountability Act

TACOMA, WA — A proposal put forward by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) to combat opioid addiction in children has been incorporated into the larger Health Equity Accountability Act, Strickland's office announced Thursday.

Strickland's proposal, the FOSTER Act, is a bill that would create grants allowing states to train child protective services and caregivers about the impact of opioid addiction on children. The program also pays to train foster and adoptive parents on the impact of opioids, and for new addiction treatment services for parents.

“It is critical that those entrusted with caring for our most vulnerable children have the resources and knowledge they need to address the challenges created by opioid abuse, particularly as it relates to health equity,” said Strickland. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to ensure that this legislation includes my FOSTER Act and I urge the House to quickly pass this legislation to benefit South Sound residents and minority communities throughout the United States.”

The FOSTER Act has now been adopted into Rep. Robin Kelly’s (IL-02) Health Equity Accountability Act, which was introduced to the House of Representatives Tuesday. The larger bill tackles a number of issues, but is largely focused on addressing health inequality with regard to race, enthnicity, sexual orientation and gender identiy.

“The Health Equity and Accountability Act will reduce racial and ethnic health inequities, address the maternal mortality crisis, strengthen health data collection & research, expand access to mental health care, target gun violence, improve language access in health care, diversify our health care workforce, and so much more,” said Congresswoman Kelly. “I am proud to lead this legislation on behalf of the Congressional Tri-Caucus to improve healthcare access and services for every single American.”

Though the opioid addiction peaked in Washington back in 2011, it still remains a consistent threat. According to Strickland's office, 58,000 Washington children were affected by the opioid epidemic in 2017, including 7,500 who were removed from their homes for foster or kinship care.

The opioid crisis also claimed the lives of 8,000 Washingtonians between 2006 and 2017. At the peak of the opioid epidemic, Washingtonians had been prescribed a combined 112 million daily doses of opioids — 16 opioids for every person in the state. In 2015, Asotin, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Columbia, Garfield, Pend Orielle, Lewis and Benton Counties had more opioid prescriptions than living people.