Legislation co-authored by Minnesota Senator Tina Smith passed the full Senate this week to help battle the opioid epidemic in rural America. Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish says it’s a good piece of legislation that will bring needed help to rural Americans hit hard by the crisis.

The National Farmers Union and American Farm Bureau teamed up to bring attention to the crisis on rural America where 74-percent of residents either know someone who is an addict or have experienced the addiction themselves. Wertish says that statistic even surprised his group’s members.

He’s hopeful either a companion opioid measure or the Senate version will move soon in the House and get sent to the President.

Smith’s legislation improves emergency response by expanding access to opioid reversal drugs for first responders. It also calls for the establishment of comprehensive opioid recovery centers.