Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, alongside 25 state attorneys general, is calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act, a critical piece of legislation aimed at closing the copycat fentanyl loophole and combating the nation’s deadly fentanyl crisis.
The bipartisan bill seeks to permanently classify fentanyl analogues as Schedule I drugs, giving law enforcement the tools needed to prosecute drug traffickers and save American lives.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has become a leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. Since 2018, fentanyl has claimed nearly as many lives as World War II, with Mexican drug cartels smuggling deadly, Chinese-made copycat fentanyl across the southern border.
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Between October 2021 and June 2022 alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized enough fentanyl to kill the entire U.S. population five times over.
“Fentanyl is a vicious killer that was only made worse by years of disastrous Biden-Harris open borders,” said Attorney General Bird. “To end the deadly fentanyl crisis, we must take immediate action. I am grateful to Senators Grassley and Ernst for leading the charge to push this legislation across the finish line, but there is still work to do. I’m calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act, which will close the copycat fentanyl loophole, put criminal drug cartels and street dealers behind bars, and save American lives.”
Copycat fentanyl, also known as fentanyl analogues, are chemically altered versions of fentanyl designed to circumvent U.S. drug laws. These analogues are often more potent and dangerous than prescription fentanyl, contributing to the rising tide of overdose deaths.
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Currently, fentanyl and its analogues are temporarily classified as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, but this designation is set to expire on March 31, 2023. The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify fentanyl analogues as Schedule I substances, ensuring that law enforcement can prosecute those who manufacture, distribute, or possess these deadly drugs.
The HALT Fentanyl Act has already gained significant traction in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The bill now awaits action in the Senate, where Attorney General Bird and her counterparts are urging swift passage. In a letter co-led by Iowa and Virginia, 25 states emphasized the urgent need for the legislation to address the fentanyl crisis and protect communities across the nation.
The coalition of attorneys general includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Together, they represent a united front in the fight against fentanyl and its devastating impact on public health and safety.
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Attorney General Bird and her colleagues are urging the Senate to act quickly to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act before the temporary Schedule I classification expires.
“Every day we delay, more lives are lost to this deadly crisis,” Bird stated. “The HALT Fentanyl Act is a commonsense solution that will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on drug cartels and street dealers. It’s time for the Senate to put politics aside and pass this lifesaving legislation.”
As the fentanyl crisis continues to ravage communities across the country, the HALT Fentanyl Act represents a critical step forward in the fight to save lives and hold those responsible for this epidemic accountable.
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