North Austin News

WASHINGTON – On May 15, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) introduced the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act, along with Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ohio), who serves as an original cosponsor. The FEND Off Fentanyl Act is a sanctions and anti-money laundering bill aimed at combating the country’s fentanyl crisis by targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain, from the chemical suppliers in China to the cartels that traffic the drugs in from Mexico. 

“Synthetic opioids — primarily fentanyl — killed more than 100,000 Americans last year alone. That’s nearly double the number of American deaths in the entire Vietnam War over two decades,” said Rep. McCaul. “I’m proud to introduce the FEND Off Fentanyl Act to help combat this generational crisis and protect young Americans in Texas and across the nation.”

“Oregon teenagers are dying from drug-related overdoses at a faster rate than any other state, and it’s mainly due to the dangerous amount of fentanyl that’s overwhelming our streets. To get fentanyl out of our communities, we need to start at the source. That’s why I’m honored to help introduce the bipartisan and bicameral FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which strengthens current penalties to target the cartels and criminals around the world who are involved in trafficking this deadly drug,” said Rep. Chavez-DeRemer.

Rep. McCaul’s bill is a companion to legislation introduced in the Senate by Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

“Fentanyl takes the lives of far too many young Americans, stripping a whole generation of the opportunity to contribute to their communities and achieve their dreams. This legislation takes decisive action to cut off the deadly flow of fentanyl at the source. By using the full weight of America’s economic power and directing the Treasury Department to make addressing this crisis a priority, this bill will restore hope for communities suffering from this deadly drug,” said Sen. Scott. 

Background:

A dangerous opioid drug, fentanyl is more 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is also the leading cause of death for young Americans. The FEND Off Fentanyl Act would declare international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and direct the Treasury Department to target, sanction, and block the financial assets of transnational criminal organizations and key members of drug cartels involved in international fentanyl trafficking.

As chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. McCaul introduced another bill last week — the Project Precursor Act — to target the fentanyl crisis by disrupting supply chains.

Read a one-pager of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act here, and read full bill text here.

Original source can be found here.