Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act. This bill would permanently classify fentanyl and its analogues as schedule I controlled substances, which will give our law enforcement officers more tools to use in tracking down and stopping the dealers who are trafficking this substance into our communities. Mr. Speaker, this is a deeply personal issue for me. I represent parts of Los Angeles County, which has experienced an over 1,000 percent increase in fentanyl deaths in the last few years. Mr. Speaker, the most difficult day in my 19 years in elected office was several years ago when I tried to console a constituent, a grieving mother who had lost both of her sons in the same day to fentanyl poisoning. As the father of two boys myself who were about the same age at the time, I can't imagine how devastating that must have been. This bill would give our law enforcement agencies more tools to help stop this problem. That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of it, and I strongly urge its passage.”