This week, the United States Senate passed legislation containing $3.7 billion in new funding to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic.

Of this funding, $232 million will go toward several evidence-based programs authorized by the Comprehension Addiction & Recovery Act, drafted by Ohio’s Republican U.S. senator, Rob Portman, in 2016.

While a cynic may say this amounts to merely throwing more money at a problem, the reality is that these funds will serve specific and much needed purposes.

Portman said the legislation will include $60 million to help infants exposed to opioids, $36 million for grants to equip first responders with anti-opioid drugs, and $30 million for drug treatment for pregnant and postpartum women.

In addition, last month, the state’s Democratic senator, Sherrod Brown, helped secure nearly $4 billion help fund prevention and treatment initiatives. These funds came through the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

The state’s two senators have worked well together, supporting the other’s efforts in these areas.

We commend them for their hard work and bipartisanship and are thankful the Senate is funding these key programs.