Political Quotes

“In 2020, my State of Virginia hit a tragic milestone: Fatal drug overdoses hit an all-time high of 2,309. Fentanyl and its analogs caused or contributed to 71.8 percent of those deaths. The statistics we have for 2021 indicate it may surpass that heartbreaking number of overdose deaths. We have tools at our disposal to reduce the availability of illicit substances such as fentanyl and meth and, in turn, prevent overdose deaths, but they are not being used. Cartels are taking components of fentanyl from China, manufacturing it in Mexico, and smuggling it across the border. In fiscal year 2021, fentanyl seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection increased by 134 percent, but the Biden administration is weakening our country's ability to secure its own border, allowing not only more illegal immigration, but smuggling of deadly drugs. Meanwhile, fentanyl-related substances have only temporarily been listed as a schedule I drug, with extensions passed every few months, including today we extended it another 3 weeks, but not a permanent scheduling. To correct this problem, I have introduced the HALT Fentanyl Act with Congressman Bob Latta of Ohio. It would permanently schedule fentanyl- related substances. But our bill doesn't stop there. It streamlines research on fentanyl analogs so we can better understand the effects of these substances. At a recent hearing of the Subcommittee on Health, we heard testimony there are as many as 4,800 fentanyl analogs.…”