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Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday said Democrats would support a deal combating the opioid epidemic and send the legislation to President Obama's desk ahead of Congress's seven-week recess. Asked whether the caucus would support the House-passed measure, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat told reporters, "yes, [but] making the point that it's unfunded." (Carney, 7/12)

Democrats will support the package when it comes up for a vote Wednesday, several senators said, but they are still pushing for more funding. The bill, which is now the result of a conference report between the House and Senate, authorizes $181 million for drug abuse and treatment programs, though the money would need to be appropriated later. (McIntire, 7/12)

Before they vote for the legislation, which could help the reelection efforts of several Republicans, Democrats are trying to convince voters that it is a hollow response to the huge opioid problem plaguing the country. The legislation offers policy changes without the money to make a real impact, they say. “Without resources, it’s very, very meaningless,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. (Haberkorn and Norman, 7/12)

The bill's provisions include expanding access to medication-assisted treatments, strengthening state prescription drug monitoring programs, developing best practices for providers to improve prescribing of opioids, and making the overdose counteracting drug naloxone available to law enforcement agencies and first responders. (Johnson, 7/12)