U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced today that his legislation to address the rise of prenatal opioid abuse and infants suffering from opioid withdrawal passed the U.S. Senate. Senator McConnell introduced the Protecting Our Infants Act earlier this year with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
“I was pleased to see the Senate pass the bipartisan Protecting Our Infants Act,” Senator McConnell said. “As prescription drug abuse and heroin use has increased in Kentucky and other states across the nation, no demographic, socio-economic status, age or gender has been left untouched. One heartbreaking aspect of this crisis is the increasing number of infants who are born dependent on opioids in the form of prescription painkillers and heroin.”
Senator Mitch McConnell press release