Rep. Barr speaks with Spectrum News following the vote. The grant program established through the CAREER Act will see a boost in funding over five years
Washington, D.C.— This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation boosting funding to an opioid recovery grant program authored and championed by U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY). First enacted in 2018, The Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act created a targeted funding stream for treatment recovery centers to help individuals overcome addiction and successfully transition back into the workforce.
The CAREER Act grant program was included as part of the sweeping SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 opioid prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation package. The programs reauthorized under the CAREER Act received a $7 million annual increase, raising total funding to $210 million - delivering critical resources to treatment providers helping individuals everywhere battling substance use disorder reclaim their lives and livelihoods.
“The Commonwealth has made meaningful progress thanks to the great work of our treatment providers, but the battle against addiction is far from over,” said Congressman Barr. “I want to thank Chairman Guthrie for his leadership on the SUPPORT Act, which included the reauthorization and important funding boost for the CAREER Act. The CAREER Act gives providers on the frontlines more resources to help individuals in recovery reenter the workforce—restoring the dignity, pride, and purpose that comes with any job.”
“We have proof that our efforts are working to curb the nation’s opioid epidemic and save lives through effective legislation, like the SUPPORT Act and the CAREER Act,” said Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY). “In fact, Kentucky is leading the country with the greatest decline in overdose death rates now surpassing 30%. As we continue to address this crisis through law enforcement, treatment and education, we must also continue equipping people in recovery with the education and skills they need to reenter the workforce and pursue a brighter future. Congressman Andy Barr and I have worked together for many years to enhance treatment and workforce opportunities for individuals in recovery, and I’m honored to join him again in support of this vital legislation.”
“Because of this grant, we’ve been able to do so much more than just meet immediate needs; we’ve helped people earn their GEDs, take their first steps toward college, and begin rebuilding lives filled with purpose. From peer recovery support to job training, this funding has helped turn hope into action for so many,” said Kara Ball, Chief Development Officer at Isaiah House, who received a $2.4M federal grant through the CAREER Act.
According to a study from the Recovery Research Institute, improving the employment status of people in recovery was associated with a greater likelihood of drug abstinence during the six month check in after leaving treatment.
Overdoses in Kentucky dropped by 30% in 2024. Despite that extraordinary improvement, the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) still has Kentucky in the top ten for U.S. States and Territories in overdose death rates. In 2024, over 1,400 Kentucky families got the call that their loved one had passed away due to an overdose.