U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) and several of his Republican colleagues applauded passage by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 25 of a GOP bill to permanently address the scheduling of fentanyl analogues.
The House-approved Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act, H.R. 467, would permanently place fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, which says that a schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“With today’s bipartisan vote in the House to advance the HALT Fentanyl Act, we are one step closer to curbing the devastating fentanyl poisoning crisis and saving American lives,” said Rep. Latta, who on Jan. 24 signed on as the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 467, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA).
Additionally, among several provisions, H.R. 467 would trigger offenses involving fentanyl-related substances by the same quantity thresholds and make them subject to the same penalties as offenses involving fentanyl analogues (e.g., offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term), the summary says.
“For too long, our nation has battled an opioid epidemic fueled in recent years by illicit fentanyl and its analogues, which claimed the lives of more than 5,000 Ohioans and 70,000 Americans in 2021. Illicit fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for people in the United States aged 18 to 49,” Rep. Latta said. “That’s why I have been championing the HALT Fentanyl Act, alongside my friend and colleague, Rep. Morgan Griffith, to permanently label these lethal substances as Schedule I narcotics.”
This permanent labeling change, he said, is significant and needed because it will help get fentanyl-related substances off the streets and out of communities.
“I now urge the Senate to take up this bill and send it to the president’s desk to be signed into law,” said Rep. Latta. “Our constituents need this solution; lives are on the line if we do not act. It’s time to get this bill across the finish line.”
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) pointed out that Democrats had more than two years to address this crisis, but have failed to do so.
“Like every other crisis ignored by Democrats, House Republicans are committed to delivering solutions,” said Rep. McCarthy. “The HALT Fentanyl Act is one needed tool to help stop the flow of fentanyl and provides law enforcement agencies the authority they need to help them adequately address this crime.”
U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2022 seized more than 379 million doses of fentanyl, which is enough to kill every single American. “I want to thank Reps. Morgan Griffith and Bob Latta for bringing forward the HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class I controlled substance to give our law enforcement the tools they need to protect Americans,” he said. “House Republicans are committed to removing this poison from our streets, and this legislation is an important step in that commitment.”
U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) noted that in his home state district, 16 people died due to an overdose on fentanyl last year alone, including a two-year-old who accidentally ingested the drug.
“Fentanyl flowing through Joe Biden’s open borders is wreaking havoc in every single community across America, and I’m grateful for the leadership of Reps. Morgan Griffith and Bob Latta on providing a commonsense solution to keep this lethal drug off our streets,” said Rep. Emmer.
Currently, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues temporarily fall under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act due to a temporary scheduling order that runs through Dec. 31, 2024.