WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Chellie Pingree welcomed executive action by President Obama to fight prescription drug abuse and heroin addiction, but said Republicans in Congress are blocking more significant reforms and increases in funding that are badly needed. Many of the actions announced by the President yesterday are included in legislation sponsored by Pingree.

"Everything the President announced yesterday is going to make a difference in the fight against heroin addiction and opioid abuse," Pingree said in a news release. "But the truth is we can do more — and should do more — than the President can do on his own. It takes action in Congress to pass the funding needed to address this epidemic. Unfortunately, Republicans are refusing to even let us vote on these measures."

Pingree is sponsoring a number of important bills to address the increase in drug abuse and addiction, including measures to raise the cap on the number of people physicians can treat with buprenorphine, make the opioid reversal drug naloxone more available to family members and community organizations, and increase funding for states to expand access to medication-assisted treatment for people without insurance. Pingree has also pushed Administration officials to increase efforts to educate doctors about treating pain management without the use of opioids, which was also part of the President's initiatives announced yesterday.

Republicans in the House have refused to allow votes on emergency funding requests for prevention and treatment of heroin and opioid abuse.