Opinion
Blackburn demands answers regarding reports of Biden’s taxpayer-funded crack pipe distribution
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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., despatched a letter to Division of Well being and Human Providers Secretary Xavier Becerra on Tuesday expressing her “grave considerations” concerning the division’s program that might reportedly use taxpayer cash to distribute crack pipes to drug addicts.
The Washington Free Beacon initially reported on this system, noting that the division would prioritize candidates in “underserved communities” as outlined below one in every of President Biden’s government orders. An HHS spokesperson reportedly advised the Beacon that the grants would fund smoking kits with pipes for customers to smoke crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine and “any illicit substances.”
The grant doc references Biden’s government order 13985, titled “Advancing Racial Fairness and Assist for Underserved Communities Via the Federal Authorities.”
CRACK PIPE DISTRIBUTION FUNDED BY HHS, PRIORITIZING ‘UNDERSERVED’ COMMUNITIES: REPORT
“Authorities-funded drug paraphernalia is a slap within the face to the communities and first responders combating in opposition to medication flowing into our nation from a wide-open southern border,” Blackburn wrote. “If that is the president’s plan to deal with drug abuse, our nation is in deep trouble.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks in the course of the Senate Judiciary Committee listening to in Hart Senate Workplace Constructing in Washington on Sept. 29, 2021.
(Tom Williams/Pool by way of Reuters)
Blackburn gave HHS till March 1 to make clear whether or not the Biden administration is, actually, authorizing the distribution of drug paraphernalia, which is in violation of the U.S. Code. The senator additionally demanded to know which entities utilized to the grant program and the way such entities are deemed eligible.
An HHS spokesperson described the Beacon’s report back to Fox Information as “blatant misinformation,” however didn’t explicitly deny the report.
“The Hurt Discount Grant supplied by the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Providers Administration (SAMHSA) and licensed by the American Rescue Plan is a grant program designed to assist People who’re battling substance use keep wholesome and secure, forestall overdose demise, and discover pathways into evidence-based remedies,” the HHS spokesperson mentioned. “Like all applications that use federal funding, these grants should adhere to related federal, state and native legal guidelines or rules.”
Fox Information’ Sam Dorman contributed to this report.
