Latta, Griffith op-ed: Congress must advance HALT Fentanyl Act to save lives

Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) and Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA9) penned an op-ed in The Washington Times today outlining the importance of Congress advancing their HALT Fentanyl Act to help save lives. The bill was approved by the House Energy & Commerce Committee in March of 2023 and was passed by the U.S. House in May of 2023.

The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently label fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I narcotic, which is a scheduling change supported by the Biden administration.

Read an excerpt of the op-ed below, or click here to read the piece in its entirety.

"As members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, we've met too many families who have told their stories of fentanyl poisonings that killed their loved ones. It's excruciating to hear, but it's nothing compared with what these families have gone through.

"It's why we rolled up our sleeves and crafted the HALT Fentanyl Act, a bill to help put an end to the fentanyl crisis by permanently labeling fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I narcotics..."

"This important legislation advanced last year through the House Energy and Commerce Committee and was passed by the full House, where it received wide bipartisan support.

"However, it is stalled in the Senate. Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana Republican who is leading the Senate version of the HALT Fentanyl Act, moved to pass the bill earlier this year. Unfortunately, the Democrats objected, and the bill didn't move.

"What is stopping Senate Democrats from advancing this bill? Our bill has widespread bipartisan support. Both the DEA and Customs and Border Protection have listed this legislation as a top priority in the fight against fentanyl. Even President Biden last year signaled he would sign our bill if it came to his desk.

"There should be no excuse for this bill not to move through the Senate.

"It did come as a surprise to us, though, that the Biden administration announced a "new" proposal to designate fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I narcotic - which is exactly what our bill does, but without a research component.

"While we appreciate the attention to this issue, we agree that the administration's efforts would be best placed in asking Senate leaders to take up the House-passed HALT Fentanyl Act, where it has been sitting and collecting dust for 16 months.

"As members of Congress who care deeply about the state of our country and the health and well-being of the American people, we will continue to call on the Senate to bring forward the HALT Fentanyl Act for a vote.

"We have the chance to help remedy the fentanyl crisis and save lives. Let's get this done."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.