The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, proposed on Jan. 28 by U.S. Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Greg Murphy (R-NC), aims to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for America’s fentanyl crisis.
The CCP “plays a prominent role in every step of the fentanyl crisis, from producing precursor chemicals to laundering cartel profits that fund the illegal trafficking into the United States,” Rep. Barr said, adding that he looks forward to working with the Trump administration “to ensure our communities are protected from this devastating epidemic.”
Specifically, H.R. 747, which Rep. Barr sponsored alongside bill cosponsor Rep. Murphy, would permit the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Chinese individuals and organizations involved in the production, sale, financing, or transportation of synthetic opioids or their precursor chemicals, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Entities that fail to cooperate with U.S. counternarcotics efforts or neglect to implement adequate “know-your-customer” procedures would be designated as foreign opioid traffickers under the bill, the summary says.
“The tragic opioid epidemic in America is fueled by fentanyl shipped over from China and smuggled into our communities through Mexico,” said Rep. Murphy. “We cannot allow this devastation to continue and must stand up to the [CCP].”
The measure has been referred for consideration to four committees in the U.S. House of Representatives: Foreign Affairs; Financial Services; Oversight and Government Reform; and Judiciary.