Heidi Alexander: “Thank you, Madam President. Today I received a letter from the U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad. Governor…”

“Thank you, Madam President. Today I received a letter from the U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad. Governor Branstad's letter said the following: I am delighted to inform you that China's Ministry of Public Security announced China will make all forms of fentanyl a controlled substance effective May 1, 2019. If implemented effectively, this will fulfill the commitment President Xi made to the President at the G-20 last December in Buenos Aires. That commitment and this key development are direct results of your visit to Beijing during which you highlighted China's role in the global opioid crisis. Separately, I have asked my staff to share diplomatic reporting with you that addresses China's action in greater detail. That is from Ambassador Terry Branstad, our Ambassador to China. This is important news. It will save thousands of American lives. President Trump deserves great credit for persuading President Xi at their meeting in Argentina in December to do this, the one thing that our drug enforcement agents have said will reduce the flow of fentanyl into the United States more than any other single thing. President Xi, the President of China, deserves the thanks of the American people for making this decision because our Drug Enforcement Agency is convinced that this decision by China and its senior officials will save thousands of American lives.…”