McCollum No Vote on the HALT Fentanyl Act, S. 331

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S.331, the HALT Fentanyl Act.

This bill is not a solution to the proliferation of Fentanyl Related Substances (FRS) in America. We need legislation and investments in health interventions that will save lives while taking meaningful action to stop illicit drug sales. 

S.331 would permanently criminalize all FRS based solely on their molecular structure. This would seriously hamper the medical community from working on the development of treatments to fentanyl overdose or other medically beneficial FRSs. The HALT Fentanyl Act also imposes harmful mandatory minimum sentences. Decades of research shows that mandatory minimum laws that focus solely on supply reduction and incarceration are not effective in slowing the flow of illicit drugs into our country or the rates of overdoses in our communities. In fact, the current fentanyl epidemic has been found to have its roots in crackdowns on prescription opioids and heroin that were not paired with evidence-based overdose prevention and treatment services. We should be pursuing policy solutions that incorporate evidence-based strategies to addiction and overdose prevention that are rooted in health and science, not just increasing criminalization.

Congress should bring forward a comprehensive bill that reflects the input of medical professionals, addiction specialists, researchers, and law enforcement. Republicans are trying to present a “quick and easy” solution to a complex problem.

Thank you, and I yield back.