Little Apple Times

Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann from Kansas voted in favor of H.R. 27, known as the Halt All Legal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. This legislation aims to permanently classify fentanyl and related substances as Schedule I drugs. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in 70% of overdose deaths in the United States in 2023.

The HALT Fentanyl Act is designed to provide law enforcement with additional resources and tools to combat and deter fentanyl trafficking while also increasing penalties for its possession and sale. Following the vote, Rep. Mann stated: “Nearly 150 Americans die each day due to fentanyl overdoses,” emphasizing that it represents a national security crisis. He added, “The country gave Washington, D.C., a mandate to seriously address the drug trafficking happening at our southern border."

Rep. Mann highlighted that House Republicans are committed to addressing this issue by enhancing penalties for fentanyl-related crimes and equipping law enforcement with necessary tools to tackle the drug trade effectively. He further stressed that "the cartels and fentanyl traffickers need to know that American lives are not up for grabs."

The bill proposes placing fentanyl in the same legal category as heroin, PCP, and crack cocaine. It was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote count of 312-108 and will now proceed to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.