PARSIPPANY — Congresswoman Sherrill jointly introduced a bipartisan bill to provide states funding to fight the opioid epidemic. Alongside Representatives David Trone (D-MD), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and Denver Riggleman (R-VA), Sherrill unveiled a proposal to authorize $5 billion to extend the State Opioid Response Grant program. The money distributed through these grants has helped to provide additional treatment beds, expand treatment and recovery options, bridge gaps identified in systems of care, support robust prevention campaigns, among other actions taken by the states to address the opioid epidemic.

“I told New Jerseyans that I would find ways to work for commonsense, bipartisan solutions to some of our greatest challenges,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “New Jersey lost more than 3,000 individuals to overdoses in 2018, and this crisis extends to every corner of our country. I’ve spoken to advocates, patients, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement officers in our community, and the lack of resources constantly comes up as a roadblock to progress in combating the opioid epidemic. Extending the State Opioid Response Grant program will give New Jersey and states across the country resources to address the opioid epidemic over the long term.”

“This crisis affects each and every community across America, and we have to ensure that each state has the resources necessary to combat this tragedy,” said Congressman David Trone (D-MD). “In my first 100 days in office I spoke with health departments, hospitals, first responders, elected officials, police officers, incarcerated individuals, mental health professionals, early childhood organizations, and those suffering from addiction. I heard loud and clear that we need additional and consistent funding to end this crisis. This legislation does just that. I thank Representatives Armstrong, Sherrill, and Riggleman for joining me in this bipartisan effort.”

“As a national leader in opioid reduction and overdose prevention, we applaud the introduction of these grants.  The impact of this funding could be far-reaching, saving thousands of lives each year and going a long way to addressing the opioid epidemic,” says Dr. Mark Rosenberg, Chief of Emergency Medicine at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ and St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center. Dr. Rosenberg developed the Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) program, a highly successful and unique approach to acute pain management without the use of opioids. St. Joseph’s was the first hospital in the country to launch the innovative ALTO program, reducing opioid prescriptions by over 82% in just 2 years.

“While we are seeing success in treatment and prevention in Sussex County, there is so much more to do to help our residents who struggle with addiction,” said Becky Carlson, Director of the Center for Prevention and Counseling in Sussex County. “There isn’t a single easy answer. This crisis requires sustained and creative solutions, from personalized care to education to support for families. As an SOR grant recipient, the Center for Prevention and Counseling knows the critical importance of this program, and the positive impact it’s had in Sussex. I’m glad Representative Sherrill is working with her colleagues to make this a priority.”

Representatives Sherrill, Trone, Armstrong, and Riggleman are members of the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction. Led by Representative Trone, the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction includes more than 50 Members of the newly-elected freshman class from districts across the entire nation. The purpose of the group is to come together to understand the extent of the impacts of addiction and to jointly promote policies to reduce overdoses and deaths.

To read more about the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, click here.

To watch Congresswoman Sherrill’s full remarks at the press conference this morning, click here.

FLORHAM PARK — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany Foundation President Frank Cahill presented Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officer Arthur Ohlsen IV with a donation of $500.00 supporting the Police Unity Tour.

The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty.

The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Patrolman Arthur Ohlsen IV is riding to Washington in memory of his father, the late Arthur Ohlsen III of the Dover Police Department.

Officer Arthur Ohlsen III was struck and killed by a New Jersey Transit train on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 while responding to reports of a brush fire near the railroad tracks under the South Salem Street overpass.

Officer Ohlsen was directing fire department personnel to the scene when he was struck. He was flown to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries 45 minutes later.

Officer Ohlsen had served with the Town of Dover Police Department for 18 years, and is survived by his wife and two sons. At the time of his death he was 44 years old.

Members of various police departments, including Patrolman Arthur Ohlsen IV, come together to pedal in praise of their fallen comrades in the Police Unity Tour. Hundreds of police officers rode their bicycles from New York to Washington, D.C., to remember those whose lives were lost in the line of duty.

In May 1997, the Police Unity Tour was organized, by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the Florham Park Police Department, with the hope of bringing public awareness of Police Officers who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. What started with 18 riders on a four day fundraising bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Has grown into nine chapters consisting of nearly 2500 members nationwide who make the trip annually.

This past May we were proud to announce that the Police Unity Tour was able to donate 2.6 million dollars to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund bringing our total donations to almost 23 million dollars.