WASHINGTON (AP) – The House Judiciary Committee has approved election-year legislation bolstering federal efforts against the growing problem of drug addiction.

In a year that’s seen little cooperation between the two parties on major issues, the bipartisan measure sailed through the committee Wednesday by voice vote.

The measure was among a pile of bills House panels are considering targeting drug abuse.

A chief focus is the illegal use of opioids, potentially addictive narcotics used as painkillers. The government says nearly 500,000 people died from drug overdoses between 2000 and 2014.

The Judiciary committee measure would establish federal grants for state and local governments to combat opioid abuse. Actual money for the grants would be addressed in future spending bills.

Critics prefer a wider-ranging version the Senate has approved.