Portman applauds Senate passage of bill outlawing fentanyl-related substances

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) praised the unanimous passage in the U.S. Senate last week of bipartisan compromise legislation to extend the temporary scheduling order to criminalize fentanyl-related substances until May 6, 2021, extending the current temporary order that is set to expire on Feb. 6 by 15 months.

“Fentanyl knows no zip code and is devastating individuals and families in Ohio and all across the country,” Sen. Portman said. “This is a vital step in our efforts to keep fentanyl out of our communities so that law enforcement can keep these dangerous synthetic opioids out of our communities.” 

The Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act, S. 3201, was introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The bill, passed by the Senate on Jan. 16, temporarily extends the emergency scheduling order for fentanyl analogues.

The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration, and Sen. Portman urged his House colleagues “to quickly pass this legislation.”

“I’m pleased that the Senate passed legislation today to extend the temporary DEA scheduling order on fentanyl-related substances…,” said Sen. Portman last week. “However, we must take action to criminalize these drugs permanently.”

Sen. Portman in October 2019 sponsored the original Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act, S. 2701, with lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) to amend the Controlled Substances Act to list fentanyl-related substances as schedule I controlled substances, according to the text of the bill.