Jackson Purchase News

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell has introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act of 2025, aimed at mitigating the impact of substance abuse on the American workforce. The legislation seeks to reauthorize and enhance federal programs that assist individuals in states severely affected by substance abuse to rejoin the workforce.

The CAREER Act focuses on supporting Americans recovering from substance use disorder by providing funding for stable, transitional housing and necessary support to help them maintain employment. It builds upon two existing programs: the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Treatment, Recovery and Workforce Support Grant Program, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Recovery Housing Program.

Since its inception, Kentucky has received approximately $12.5 million in federal funding through this act. Organizations such as Isaiah House, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, and Mountain Comprehensive Care Center have benefited from several million dollars in funding to address workforce challenges linked to substance abuse in Kentucky.

Senator McConnell emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue: "The substance abuse epidemic has claimed lives in Kentucky at an unprecedented rate, but this problem isn’t only devastating families and communities. It’s also a workforce emergency." He added that since its enactment six years ago, "this legislation has helped countless Kentuckians return to productive, healthy lives."

Jennifer Willis, CEO of Pathways Inc., highlighted the transformative impact of these programs: "The CAREER Act and its Recovery Housing Program have been transformative for our recovery consumers at Pathways." She shared success stories from The Journey—Pathways' Women's Residential Recovery Center—where women have overcome addiction with support from these initiatives.

The CAREER ACT is co-sponsored by Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN).