U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), speaking at a Cincinnati firehouse on Wednesday, announced legislation that would take steps to curb the trafficking of fentanyl and carfentanil into the United States.
Fentanyl and carfentanil shipped into the United States through mail couriers from countries like Mexico and China has led to an increase in overdose deaths across the country. Under current law, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) doesn’t receive advance electronic customs data from mail entering the United States through foreign postal services.
Portman’s legislation would require shipments from foreign countries through the U.S. Postal Service to provide electronic advance data before packages are allowed to cross the border. Information about senders of packages, destination of packages and what is inside would be required under Portman’s bill, making detection of suspect packages easier.
“Our first responders in Ohio are dealing with the effects of the opiate addiction epidemic every day,” Portman said. “Last year, they reversed 16,000 overdoses across the Buckeye State, saving thousands of lives. They deserve more support, including from the federal government. That’s one reason why I co-authored the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, a new federal law that will improve first responder training and increase the availability of naloxone, a miracle drug they’re using to save lives across Ohio. That’s also one more reason why I intend to introduce new legislation to help stop synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from coming into Ohio in the first place.”
Portman recently concluded a seven-city tour across Ohio to highlight the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which was signed into law in July.