On the recordFebruary 2, 2022
I thank the gentleman for yielding and hosting tonight. This is extremely important, as we all know. Madam Speaker, I rise today to hold this administration accountable, to hold them accountable for fueling a public health crisis, and it is not COVID-19. It is no secret that we are dealing with a serious problem at our border. As apprehensions spike, so is the availability of fentanyl, which is largely coming from South and Central America. Fentanyl is an extremely potent and deadly chemical that is used to cheaply enhance the highs of other drugs. Early reports indicate that 2021 was the deadliest year on record for overdoses in my home State of Georgia. As of April 2021, we experienced a 110 percent increase in opioid-related deaths, and that number is expected to climb in 2022. The neglect at our border has only enabled drug traffickers who wish to do our people harm and make every State a border State. The Biden administration's refusal to act on this crisis has resulted in thousands of lives lost, including children. As a matter of fact, one of the only things to get cheaper during Joe Biden's term as President is fentanyl. I am a proud supporter of the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will permanently schedule fentanyl and prevent future mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons from murder at the hands of this lethal drug. The longer we wait, the more people will die from this poison. The time to act is now.…
