Gallego Introduces Slate of Bills to Ensure Whole of Government Approach in the Fight Against Fentanyl

Gallego Introduces Slate of Bills to Ensure Whole-of-Government Approach in the Fight Against Fentanyl

PHOENIX - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), introduced three bills that, together, will ensure a whole-of-government approach in the fight to stop the flow of fentanyl and keep Arizonans safe.

"Every day, dangerous, illicit fentanyl continues to flow across our border and endanger Arizonans," said Rep. Gallego. "My number one priority is Arizonans' safety, which is why I am proud to introduce these bills that will ensure we have an all-hands-on-deck response to this crisis. I look forward to working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to get these bills signed into law."

The bills Rep. Gallego introduced today are:

• The Fentanyl Disruption Steering Group Establishment Act to maximize government coordination and create a Fentanyl Disruption Steering Group within the National Security Council made up of senior officials from federal agencies including the intelligence community and the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Commerce, and Homeland Security.

• The Anti-Fentanyl Partnerships Act to require relevant agencies to report to Congress on public-private partnerships they are using in their efforts to combat the illegal fentanyl trade.

• The Fentanyl Defense Threat Assessment Actto require the Department of Defense to conduct an analysis of any potential threats the illicit fentanyl drug trade poses to the defense interests of the United States.

Last week, Rep. Gallego sent a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security urging his Department to prioritize the full deployment of fentanyl detection technology and the full staffing of Ports of Entry on the southern border when determining future personnel and resource distribution.

Rep. Gallego has worked tirelessly to stop the flow of fentanyl across Arizona's border and save Arizonans' lives. He introduced - and passed into law - the Buck Stops Here Act to authorize the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to designate financial institutions, transaction classes, or accounts as primary money laundering concerns in connection to illicit fentanyl trafficking. He has also introduced the bipartisan Overdose Reversal Medication Act, legislation to increase the distribution of opioid overdose-reversal drugs to the public.