U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is backing bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening support for first responders dealing with drug overdoses.
The Safe Response Act, recently reintroduced in Congress, would reauthorize and fund a federal grant program that equips first responders with the training and tools needed to handle overdoses, particularly those involving opioids like fentanyl.
“West Virginians know all too well the devastation and heartbreak drug overdoses cause in our communities. That’s why it is essential Congress provides the resources and training our first responders need to administer life-saving overdose reversal drugs and keep themselves safe in the process. I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation that will equip our first responders with the necessary tools to save more lives,” Senator Capito said.
The bill calls for $57 million annually from 2026 to 2030 to be distributed through grants to states, local governments, and tribal organizations. Funds would be used for training, technical support, and safety measures related to overdose response.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. recorded 80,391 overdose deaths in 2024, with more than 50,000 attributed to opioids. That marks a nearly 27% decrease from 2023, a drop officials partly credit to the wider use of naloxone and similar reversal medications.
West Virginia has seen even sharper improvements, with overdose deaths down almost 41% in the past year.
The original grant program was first included in the 2018 SUPPORT Act, a comprehensive federal effort to combat the opioid crisis. The renewed legislation would expand on that initiative by:
The bill is currently under consideration in the Senate.
A copy of the bill text is available here, and a one-pager on the bill is available here.