Senate to vote next week on opioid package

The Senate will vote next week on a package of bills aimed at curbing the nation’s opioid epidemic, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Thursday.

McConnell’s spokesman said that Democrats had dropped their holds on the legislation.

Some Democrats had previously objected to a provision, calling it an earmark for an advocacy group funded by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

{mosads}The sweeping opioid package focuses on treatment and prevention as well as curbing the flow of illicit substances into the US.

One of the bills to be voted on was authored by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and advocated by President Trump on Twitter last month.

The STOP Act aims to end the shipment of synthetic drugs like fentanyl to drug traffickers in the U.S.

The House passed its opioid package in June. If the Senate passes its package, the two chambers will have to reconcile differences before sending the legislation to Trump for a signature.