Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt has expressed her approval following the Senate's passage of the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. In a statement, she emphasized the commitment to combatting the fentanyl crisis: “We made a promise to the American people to take decisive action against the deadly fentanyl crisis, and with the passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act, we are keeping that promise,” said Senator Britt. She further stated, “This legislation makes it clear that the era of allowing fentanyl to flow into our country is over. I’m proud to send this bill to President Trump’s desk as we continue taking action to protect American children and families from the devastating impacts of fentanyl.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that drug overdose deaths are now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, with nearly 70% of these deaths in 2022 attributed to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

The HALT Fentanyl Act aims to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification would equip law enforcement with necessary tools to address this epidemic.

Senator Britt recently took part in a Senate Judiciary hearing where she voiced her strong support for the HALT Fentanyl Act. She remarked, “In my view, we need to be as bold as possible when it comes to taking steps to protecting American children and families from the scourge of fentanyl. That’s one of the reasons I am a co-sponsor of the HALT Fentanyl Act.”

Additionally, Senator Britt supports various legislative measures aimed at tackling the nation's fentanyl crisis. These include a proposal for creating a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics designed to streamline interagency collaboration and enhance legal enforcement. On this task force, she commented, “The flood of fentanyl into our nation is truly devastating American families and communities. I am deeply grateful for this effort to develop a coordinated federal task force to combat illicit fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics trafficked by bad actors.”

She also co-sponsors Senator John Kennedy’s Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act, which proposes altering quantity thresholds for mandatory minimum prison sentences related to fentanyl distribution. The act would direct increased chemical screening by U.S. Postal Service personnel.

Recently addressing her colleagues on the Senate floor, Senator Britt reiterated Republican efforts in prioritizing solutions for the fentanyl crisis: “The era of allowing deadly fentanyl to flow into our country is over. The American people need us to act now and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re going to clean up our streets. We’re going to protect our families. We’re going to secure our borders, and we’re going to ensure that our children actually have the opportunity to live their American Dream. Let’s make America safe again.”