SENATORS MCCORMICK, FETTERMAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO STRENGTHEN ADDICTION TREATMENT WORKFORCE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) today introduced the Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act, bipartisan legislation to help communities hit hardest by the opioid and fentanyl crisis by recruiting, training, and strengthening the workforce needed to support addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.

The legislation modernizes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, giving state and local workforce boards new tools to respond to the workforce impacts of substance use disorders, with opioids at the center of the crisis in Pennsylvania.

"In Pennsylvania, we've seen firsthand the devastating toll fentanyl and opioids have taken on our families and communities," said Senator McCormick. "If we're going to help more people recover, we need enough skilled workers to provide that care. This bipartisan bill gives communities more tools to train that workforce so more people can get the help they need."

"Countless families have been torn apart as a result of the rampant opioid crisis, which especially impacts our workforce right here in PA. The need for treatment, recovery, and other support services is real," said Senator Fetterman. "I'm proud to join my friend Senator McCormick in introducing the Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act to open up federal workforce development investments to help workers and families fight back against this epidemic."

Pennsylvania has made significant progress against the opioid and fentanyl crisis. Fentanyl killed approximately 4,000 Pennsylvanians each year from 2020 through 2023, and preliminary data indicate that figure fell to approximately 1,500 in 2025, the lowest level in a decade. Sustaining that progress will require a strong workforce capable of delivering prevention, treatment, recovery, and other behavioral health services. The Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act gives communities the workforce tools needed to meet that demand.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).

The Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act would:

• Direct the Department of Labor to evaluate and annually share promising, evidence-based workforce strategies for communities responding to substance use disorder.
• Expand the use of National Dislocated Worker Grants to support employment and training activities related to addiction prevention, treatment, mental health care, and pain management in communities where demand exceeds available state and local resources.
• Broaden eligibility for these grants to include dislocated workers, long-term unemployed individuals, individuals who are unemployed or significantly underemployed as a result of widespread substance use in their area, and individuals employed or seeking employment in health care professions involved in substance use disorder prevention and treatment.
• Read the full bill text here.

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