Schumer says ‘very few’ outstanding issues on opioids package

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday there are only two outstanding issues left to be negotiated on a bill that would tackle the opioid crisis in the U.S. 

Democrats and Republicans have been working on hammering out the differences in the Senate opioid bill before bringing it for a vote as soon as this week.

{mosads}”We’re making very good progress. I have to give Sen. McConnell credit. This is something we’re working very well together on,” Schumer said during a press conference Wednesday. 

“There are a large number of amendments by both Democrats and Republicans… We have a few more issues outstanding. Very few. Two, actually,” he said. 

He added that he talked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on the floor “and I hope we can get this done and get it done quickly.”

McConnell said last week the bill could come up for a vote as soon as this week. While Republicans have signed off on the package, he said, Democrats have objections.

However, Democrats have not indicated what those objections are. 

The House passed its opioid package in June. If the Senate passes its package, the two chambers will have to reconcile the differences before sending it to President Trump for his signature.