Pappas Votes to Authorize State Opioid Response Funding, Establish Senior Fraud and Scam Protections

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) voted to pass two key pieces of legislation to help New Hampshire combat the opioid and addiction epidemic, and to protect Granite State seniors from fraud and scams.

H.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act Of 2020, which Pappas co-sponsored, reauthorizes through FY2024 the State Opioid Response Grants program which is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The program works to address the opioid crisis by increasing access to medication-assisted treatment and supports evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery support services to address stimulant misuse and use disorders, including for cocaine and methamphetamine.

"New Hampshire is still being hit incredibly hard by the opioid and addiction crisis, which has only been made more acute by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Congressman Pappas. "That is why I am pleased that today the House voted to unanimously pass a critical reauthorize the State Opioid Response Grants program to provide badly needed funds to New Hampshire to support prevention, treatment, and recovery services."

H.R. 2610, the Fraud And Scam Reduction Act, establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Council, which will create model educational materials to educate employees of retailers, financial-services companies, and wire-transfer companies on how to identify and prevent scams that affect seniors.

In October, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office reported that scams targeting Social Security numbers have been on the rise in the state, and a 2019 U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report showed that older Americans exploited by fraud suffered an average loss of $34,200.

"Today the House passed important legislation to collect and disseminate model educational materials useful in identifying and preventing scams that impact seniors," said Pappas. "The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many seniors to become more isolated and rely more heavily on email and phone to communicate, placing them at an increased risk of fraud or scams. This legislation will help prevent our seniors from being defrauded by making more information readily available and sharing necessary resources with stakeholders and businesses."