Fitzpatrick, Capito anti-opioid trafficking measure heads to White House for signature

Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to keep synthetic opioids off America’s streets overwhelmingly passed the Senate on Dec. 21 and heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

The International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act (H.R. 2142/S. 708) would provide the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) with the latest technology and scientific support for detecting fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive substances that get illegally imported into the United States, according to the bill’s summary.

Based on CBP guidance, $15 million would be authorized for new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities and personnel.

“As communities across my district and across our nation continue to deal with the crisis of opioid abuse and addiction, it’s hard to imagine a synthetic drug up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.

The House version of the bill, introduced in April by Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA), passed that chamber on Oct. 24, by a vote of 412-3.

“I am pleased that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, first in the House and now the Senate, have voted to advance this important measure,” Fitzpatrick said. “I urge the president to quickly sign my INTERDICT Act into law so we can keep this poison off our streets.”

Fitzpatrick pointed out that more than 42,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose in 2016, with nearly half being directly attributed to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, according to data released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC also reported that Mexico is the main trafficker of fentanyl into the United States, while China is the primary source for distributing chemicals used for manufacturing fentanyl that illegally enters the U.S.

When it is misused or abused, fentanyl is much deadlier than heroin, said Bucks County, Pa., District Attorney Matt Weintraub.

“We must take an all-out approach in stemming the tide of illegal drugs available for abuse,” Weintraub added. “Law enforcement will continue to play a critical role in this battle against the drug scourge and the criminals who peddle this poison. Just as sure as heroin and fentanyl kill, the INTERDICT Act will save lives.”

Sen. Capito’s home state of West Virginia remains the leader in overdose deaths, she said in a Dec. 22 statement.

“But we are not the only state that is being forced to deal with the tragic consequences of the growing opioid epidemic,” said Capito. “Given the scope and the impact of this national crisis, it’s going to take a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck approach to fight it, and enforcement is a big part of that strategy.”

The Senate version of the INTERDICT Act was introduced on March 23 by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA). Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Capito in introducing the Senate bill.

Rep. Fitzpatrick said that the INTERDICT Act was incorporated in the legislative agenda of the House Bipartisan Heroin Task Force and was mentioned in the recently released interim report from the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.