Bipartisan, bicameral legislation co-authored and introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) to disrupt the illegal flow of fentanyl earlier this month received approval from the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“This legislation will better equip the State Department to combat the international trafficking of synthetic drugs across our borders by increasing information sharing with international drug agencies and creating a program to build the capacity of foreign law enforcement organizations to address this threat,” said Rep. McCaul, ranking member on the committee. “I am very thankful for my colleagues who supported this legislation in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”
Rep. McCaul on Aug. 7 signed on as the original cosponsor of the Fighting Emerging Narcotics Through Additional Nations to Yield Lasting (FENTANYL) Results Act, H.R. 7990, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-MD). The measure would prioritize efforts of the U.S. State Department to combat international trafficking in covered synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances, according to the text of the bill, which the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved on Oct. 1.
“Communities across the nation have experienced the devastating impacts of the illicit flow of fentanyl,” Rep. McCaul said. “According to the CDC, in 2018 alone, opioids were involved in more than 46,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. – we must leverage the full weight of our government to address this issue that impacts so many American families.”
If enacted, the FENTANYL Results Act also would authorize an exchange program for governmental and nongovernmental personnel both stateside and abroad to provide educational and professional development on demand reduction matters related to such drugs, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. McCaul’s office.
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) on Aug. 6 introduced the same-named S. 4514, which remains under committee consideration in the U.S. Senate.