WASHINGTON, D.C. — Legislation led by U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) to strengthen recovery resources for individuals battling addiction passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization (SUPPORT) Act of 2025. The Communities of Recovery Reauthorization Act is bipartisan legislation introduced earlier this year by Rep. Nunn and Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) to renew and strengthen federal support for peer-led and community-based recovery programs across the country.
“Too many Iowa families know the heartbreak of losing a loved one to addiction. While it’s encouraging to see overdose deaths begin to decline thanks to more resources in local communities and the President’s crackdown at the southern border, this crisis is far from over,” said Rep. Nunn. “As the House works with the administration to hold China and Mexico accountable for the production and distribution of fentanyl, I’m proud that our bill to invest nearly $20 million in local addiction recovery efforts passed the House with bipartisan support.”
In 2024, Iowa saw more than 400 overdose deaths, and across the country, more than 150 Americans die each day from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a recent decline in overdose deaths nationwide. This progress is a result of continued efforts at every level, including federal investments through the 2018 SUPPORT Act, targeted border enforcement, and grassroots recovery programs that empower communities to lead the fight for addiction recovery.
The Communities of Recovery Reauthorization Act builds on that progress by expanding the Building Communities of Recovery (BCOR) program, more than tripling its authorized funding from $5 million to $17 million annually. Rep. Nunn recently sat down with the Iowa Behavioral Health Association to discuss the importance of this investment for local organizations that deliver vital support services, including housing, job training, and mental health assistance, for individuals in recovery.
The bill was passed in the SUPPORT Act. The SUPPORT Act will:
- Expand access to naloxone for first responders
- Enhance treatment options for pregnant and postpartum women
- Support workforce reentry programs for individuals in recovery
- Strengthen Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)
- Continue funding for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers
Text of the Communities of Recovery Reauthorization Act can be found here.
Text of the SUPPORT Act can be found here.
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