John Rice Carter: “I am here today to ask my colleagues across the aisle to support the efforts outlined in H.R. 2430 to extend the…”

“I am here today to ask my colleagues across the aisle to support the efforts outlined in H.R. 2430 to extend the emergency scheduling of fentanyl analogues. This is an opportunity for us to work together to help stem the flow of deadly fentanyl and its analogues into our country. This is also an issue that impacts every one of us and the communities that we call home. We all know someone who has been the victim of an addictive or illegal opioid. Just last week in my home State of Georgia, the Georgia attorney general announced that he is investigating fatal drug overdoses blamed on counterfeit medications--medications laced with fentanyl. Those individuals bought illegal products they believed to be Xanax, Percocet, and Roxicodone. These clusters of overdoses were spread across my State, and I know we are not alone. It continues to take the lives of our fellow Americans, and more must be done to fight this. Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance. Three milligrams is enough to be fatal. It is 50 times more potent than heroin. First responders just touching or accidentally inhaling the substance can experience severe complications and possible death. So where is this coming from? Across the border with Mexico. The GAO even reports that seizures of fentanyl from Mexico increased by more than 200 percent from 2018 to 2020. Every year, U.S. Border Patrol agents intercept enough fentanyl to kill every single American several times over.…”