The Home of Representatives handed the Halt All Deadly Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, often known as the HALT Fentanyl Act, on Thursday with the backing of each Republicans and Democrats.
The legislation, which Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, introduced on Jan. 24, goals “To amend the Managed Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, and for different functions,” in keeping with the invoice’s textual content.
“I’m happy the Home has voted in favor of my important laws with Congressman Latta to completely schedule lethal fentanyl analogues, strengthening legislation enforcement’s means to prosecute fentanyl traffickers,” Griffith stated in a written statement. “The invoice additionally promotes analysis of fentanyl analogues within the hopes of discovering medicinal makes use of.”
“As drug overdose deaths attain historic ranges in our nation, the HALT Fentanyl Act affords a technique to make progress amid the tragedy of habit,” the Virginia congressman stated. “I urge my colleagues within the Senate to swiftly move this laws in order that we could ship it to the president’s desk to be signed into legislation.”
Customs and Border Safety has seized a file 17,000 kilos of fentanyl on the southern border in fiscal 2023, greater than triple the entire quantity seized in 2022.
The legislation passed in a 289-133 vote, with 74 Democrats voting within the invoice’s favor. 100 and thirty-two Democrats have been joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in voting in opposition to the invoice whereas 13 lawmakers didn’t vote.
“With right this moment’s bipartisan vote within the Home to advance the HALT Fentanyl Act, we’re one step nearer to curbing the devastating fentanyl poisoning disaster and saving American lives,” Latta said in a statement.
“For too lengthy, our nation has battled an opioid epidemic fueled in recent times by illicit fentanyl and its analogs, which claimed the lives of greater than 5,000 Ohioans and 70,000 Individuals in 2021,” Latta additionally stated.
Fentanyl is now the primary reason for demise amongst grownup Individuals below the age of fifty, in keeping with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In 2022, 107,375 individuals within the U.S. died of drug overdoses or poisonings, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, and “67 % of these deaths concerned artificial opioids like fentanyl.”
“The HALT Fentanyl Act would completely schedule all fentanyl-related substances (FRS) not in any other case scheduled into Schedule I of the Managed Substances Act as a category and expedite analysis into fentanyl-related substances, which the Administration has lengthy supported,” the White Home Workplace of Administration and Funds stated in a statement of administration policy on Monday.
“The Administration’s 2021 suggestions to Congress included extra provisions to enhance public security,” the assertion additionally stated. “The Administration calls on Congress to move all of those important measures to enhance public security and save lives.”
The Each day Sign’s Virginia Allen contributed to this report.
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