Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) today voted in support of the HALT Fentanyl Act, legislation introduced by Congressmen Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) and Bob Latta (R-OH-05) that would make permanent the current temporary class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances (FRS).
“By passing this legislation, House Republicans are ensuring that law enforcement has the tools needed to keep lethal drugs off our streets and protect Americans,”said Congressman Moran. “Our nation is facing a devastating fentanyl epidemic, with hundreds of thousands of Americans dying each year due to illicit distribution networks. The HALT Fentanyl Act addresses this national emergency by closing a loophole in federal law that could make many fentanyl-related substances legal and prevent law enforcement and border agents from seizing them. We cannot allow drug traffickers to evade prosecution by making slight chemical changes to fentanyl to create new, deadly variations.”
Background:
The HALT Fentanyl Actwould permanently classify fentanyl analogues, which are fentanyl-related substances, as Schedule I drugs. Schedule I drugs are substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, as defined by the Controlled Substances Act.
Schedule I designation for fentanyl analogues currently operates on a temporary basis and is set to expire at the end of next month.
Failing to make this designation permanent could allow fentanyl analogues onto the streets and limit law enforcement’s ability to act.
