Congressman Kim Secures $300,000 for Burlington County’s HOPE ONE in Federal Spending Bill

Mount Laurel, NJ – This week, Congressman Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding package that includes $300,000 for Burlington County’s HOPE ONE mobile access unit. Congressman Kim submitted a Community Project Funding request for the local program which connects residents with substance abuse treatment and recovery support services. The Senate passed the bill yesterday and President Biden is expected to sign it into law later today.

“I’m proud to have delivered this funding so that HOPE ONE can continue its life-saving work in our community,” said Congressman Kim. “With this money, HOPE ONE will be able to expand its crucial services and help more of our neighbors suffering from addiction. I’ve seen the pain of this crisis in the eyes of loved ones firsthand and know how critical these services are to so many across Burlington and Ocean Counties.”

Congressman Kim visited HOPE ONE’S mobile unit in Pemberton last October. HOPE ONE is a successful partnership between the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department, Human Services Department, Health Department, the Maryville Addiction Treatment Center, and Virtua Health. The program began in 2019 and offers overdose prevention training, referrals to recovery services, and other resources to those struggling with drug addiction.

“The HOPE ONE program has been a gamechanger in our fight against addiction by bringing addiction services, education and resources into our communities where people live and work, rather than asking those in need of help to go searching for them,” said Burlington County Commissioner Felicia Hopson, the Commissioners’ liaison to the Burlington County Human Services and Health departments, which operate the program with the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department and partners from Virtua Health and the Maryville Addiction Treatment Center. “We’re proud of the program’s tremendous success, and we’re grateful for Congressman Kim’s efforts to secure this critical funding to help HOPE ONE expand and reach even more people. By working together, we can help save lives and overcome this terrible crisis.”

“The addiction crisis has required an all-hands-on-deck approach and our department continues to reach out to those in need through the HOPE ONE program,” said Burlington County Sherriff Anthony Basantis and Undersheriff Jim Kostoplis. “By working together with the County Health and Human Services departments and our other partners, we’ve distributed thousands of doses of naloxone and helped connect numerous individuals in need with treatment and other resources. Congressman Kim has been an outstanding leader on this issue and an important partner for us. We’re confident his action to secure this funding will allow HOPE ONE to do even more to assist Burlington County’s residents.”

Congressman Kim is a member of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. He authored the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, which has passed the House. Congressman Kim’s legislation would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a public education campaign about the dangers of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids and the treatment services available. The bill would also direct the CDC to disseminate information on synthetic opioids to health care providers and require the development of training materials for first responders and other workers at high risk of exposure on synthetic opioid exposure prevention measures. Congressman Kim is also a cosponsor of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate red tape for health care providers to prescribe buprenorphine, a proven treatment that has saved countless Americans struggling with substance use disorder but remains inaccessible for many.

Congressman Kim is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.

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