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U.S. NEWS Friday 27 OctOber 2017
Trump declares opioids a public health emergency

By JILL COLVIN Democratic House leader
CARLA K. JOHNSON Nancy Pelosi called the
Associated Press new declaration “words
WASHINGTON (AP) — In without the money.”
ringing and personal terms, Trump’s audience Thurs-
President Donald Trump day included parents who
on Thursday pledged to have lost children to drug
“overcome addiction in overdoses, people who
America,” declaring the have struggled with addic-
opioid crisis a nationwide tion, and first responders
public health emergency whose have used over-
and announcing new steps dose reversal drugs to save
to combat what he de- lives.
scribed as the worst drug Trump also spoke person-
crisis in U.S. history. ally about his own family’s
Trump’s declaration, which experience with addiction:
will be effective for 90 days His older brother, Fred Jr.,
and can be renewed, will died after struggling with
allow the government to alcoholism. It’s the reason
redirect resources, includ- the president does not
ing toward expanded ac- drink.
cess to medical services Trump described his broth-
in rural areas. But it won’t er as a “great guy, best
bring new dollars to fight a looking guy,” with a per-
scourge that kills nearly 100 President Donald Trump signs a presidential memorandum to declare the opioid crisis a national sonality “much better than
Americans a day. public health emergency in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Wash- mine”q
“As Americans we can- ington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
not allow this to continue,” contains just $57,000, ac-
Trump said in a speech at cording to the Department
the White House, where he of Health and Human Ser-
bemoaned an epidemic vices, a negligible amount.
he said had spared no seg- Officials would not disclose
ment of American society, how much they were seek-
affecting rural areas and ing.
cities, the rich and the poor But critics said Thursday’s
and both the elderly and words weren’t enough.
newborns. “How can you say it’s an
“This can happen to any of emergency if we’re not
us,” he said. “No state has going to put a new nickel
been spared.” in it?” said Dr. Joseph Parks,
Officials said they also medical director of the
would urge Congress, dur- nonprofit National Coun-
ing end-of-the year budget cil for Behavioral Health,
negotiations, to add new which advocates for ad-
cash to a public health diction treatment provid-
emergency fund that Con- ers. “As far as moving the
gress hasn’t replenished money around,” he add-
for years. The Public Health ed, “that’s like robbing Pe-
Emergency Fund currently ter to pay Paul.”
Kobach transcripts: Changes

to US election law discussed

By ROXANA HEGEMAN suit filed by American Civil
Associated Press Liberties Union challeng-
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — ing a Kansas voter regis-
The vice chairman of Presi- tration law that requires
dent Donald Trump’s elec- documents such as a birth
tion fraud commission says certificate, U.S. passport or
he wants to change U.S. naturalization papers.
election law so states have The deposition in August is
an incentive to require the result of an ACLU court
proof of U.S. citizenship to filing after Kobach was
register to vote, according photographed holding a
to a deposition unsealed document with the words
Thursday. on one page facing out as
Kansas Secretary of State he entered a meeting with
Kris Kobach, a leading ad- then President-elect Don-
vocate of tighter voting ald Trump to talk about im-
laws, gave the testimony in migration. The ACLU asked
a deposition made public a court to force Kobach to
as part of a federal law- release the document. q