ABOUT TO BECOME LAW: As Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Continue to Rise, Congress Passes FEND Off Fentanyl Act

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) passed vital bipartisan legislation to combat illegal fentanyl trafficking in the United States. The Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act is on its way to becoming law after passing the House of Representatives as part of the foreign aid package that passed over the weekend. The bill will impose substantial sanctions on foreigners trafficking fentanyl and other illicit opioids in the U.S. Specifically, the bill targets Chinese traffickers who produce the majority of illicit fentanyl and the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.

Overdose deaths involving illicit fentanyl among kids aged 10-19 skyrocketed 182% between 2019 and 2021.

“As a parent, the rise in overdose deaths among kids is absolutely terrifying,” said Rep. Harder. “We need to get fentanyl and other deadly drugs out of our communities before this crisis gets worse. This bill holds drug traffickers accountable by imposing massive sanctions on the criminals who are smuggling fentanyl into our country. By creating new punishments and sanctions for these heartless drug dealers, we will save lives.”

Specifically, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act extends sanctions on foreigners involved in the global illicit drug trade. The bill also requires the President to take property-blocking sanctions to punish foreign individuals who are knowingly involved in trafficking fentanyl, fentanyl precursors, or other related opioids by a transnational criminal organization, as well as individuals who are seriously involved in such a criminal organization.

This continues Rep. Harder’s work to protect kids from fentanyl, protect first responders from deadly drugs, and get the xylazine-laced fentanyl “zombie drug” out of our communities.

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