Tartaglione Hosts Legislative Roundtable Discussion with ONDCP Director, Acting Secretary of DDAP

Tartaglione Hosts Legislative Roundtable Discussion with ONDCP Director, Acting Secretary of DDAP

by | April 19, 2023 | News Releases

Philadelphia, PA – April 19, 2023 –Today, Senator Christine M. Tartaglione, Senate Democratic Whip, hosted the Biden Administration’s Drug Czar along with state policymakers to talk about the addiction and opioid crisis.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), joined Sen. Tartaglione, Dr. Latika Davis-Jones, Acting Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), and a bipartisan and bicameral group of 12 legislators at Temple University to discuss the partnership between state and federal efforts to combat the growing drug and opioid crisis affecting Pennsylvania.

“Philadelphia has been the epicenter of the drug and addiction crisis that faces too many communities both across Pennsylvania as well as America,” said Sen. Tartaglione. “Bringing together a coalition of bipartisan legislators from both the State House and Senate to have these important conversations is crucial in moving forward and helping Pennsylvania and Pennsylvanians recover from the damaging effects of drug addiction.”

The roundtable conversation which was held on Temple University’s campus highlighted the importance of ensuring a seamless partnership between local, state, and federal programs.

“This epidemic is unweaving the very fabric of our Nation, and that’s unacceptable to me and it’s unacceptable to President Biden,” said Dr. Gupta. “That’s why the Administration’s Strategy is focused on addressing two key drivers of the epidemic—untreated addiction and the drug trafficking profits that fuel it. Local and state officials are vital to making sure our collective response matches this historic threat, so I’m glad I had the opportunity to discuss the response to fentanyl, xylazine, and other drug threats with such engaged state legislators. This crisis isn’t a red state or blue state issue—it’s America’s issue. And working together, we can beat this.”

Legislators from across the Commonwealth came together to share their community’s unique perspectives on the opioid and addiction crisis, and how Pennsylvania can use both state and federal resources to help drive recovery and treatment efforts for people suffering from addiction.

The following legislators participated in the roundtable discussion:

  • Sen. Tartaglione
  • Sen. Sharif Street
  • Sen. Jimmy Dillon
  • Sen. John Kane
  • Sen. Dan Laughlin
  • Sen. Camera Bartolotta
  • Senator Michelle Brooks
  • Senator Anthony Williams
  • Rep. Joe Hohenstein
  • Rep. Jose Giral
  • Rep. Anthony Bellmon
  • Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

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Senator Tartaglione Becomes Newest Appointment to Temple University’s Board of Trustees

Senator Tartaglione Becomes Newest Appointment to Temple University’s Board of Trustees

by | May 8, 2019 | News Releases

The senator will join Governor Wolf, Philadelphia Mayor Kenney and leaders from the Commonwealth’s private and public sectors on the university’s governing body.

HARRISBURG, PA, May 8, 2019 – State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) was appointed by the Senate today as the newest member of the Temple University Board of Trustees. She will join Governor Tom Wolf, Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney, and other high-ranking leaders from Pennsylvania’s public and private sectors on the body that governs the 135-year-old state-related research institution.

“It is an honor to serve such a venerable and influential institution. I accept this appointment knowing that it comes with a tremendous responsibility,” Senator Tartaglione said. “Higher education is one of the pillars of prosperity for this Commonwealth and its citizens. As a trustee, I will seek to ensure that willing and deserving students have access to the many programs offered at Temple. And I will also seek to ensure that the university makes optimal use of the resources invested in it.”

Based in North Philadelphia, Temple has four branch campuses in Southeastern Pennsylvania, one in Harrisburg, and foreign campuses in Rome and Tokyo. It is the second-largest university in the Commonwealth with an enrollment of more than 40,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The university offers more than 500 academic programs.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or email at William.Kenny@pasenate.com.