SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS AND FENTANYL CONTINUE KILLING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS EACH YEAR. IN 2023, AN ESTIMATED 75,000 PEOPLE IN THE US DIED FROM FENTANYL OVERDOSE, ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

THAT FIGURE IS DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM THE YEAR PRIOR WHEN 2022 SAW JUST OVER AN ESTIMATED 76,000 DEATHS.

NOW A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS IS LOOKING TO CRACK DOWN ON CHINA’S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES’ FENTANYL CRISIS.

IN 2019, THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DECLARED CHINA THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF FENTANYL AND FENTANYL-RELATED SUBSTANCES TRAFFICKED INTO AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

FENTANYL PRECURSOR CHEMICALS ARE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA AND SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY TO THE US, MEXICO AND CANADA WHERE DRUG MANUFACTURERS MAKE FENTANYL USING THE PRECURSOR CHEMICALS. MANY TIMES, THE FENTANYL IS THEN SMUGGLED INTO THE US FROM CANADA AND MEXICO.

LAWMAKERS INTRODUCED THREE BILLS AIMED AT HOLDING CHINA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ILLICIT DRUG MANUFACTURING. THEY’RE THE JOINT TASK FORCE TO COUNTER ILLICIT SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS ACT OF 2024, THE CCP FENTANYL SANCTIONS ACT, AND THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTING FROM PRC FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS ACT.

THE JOINT TASK FORCE TO COUNTER ILLICIT SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS ACT OF 2024 WOULD CREATE A TASK FORCE TO TACKLE SYNTHETIC DRUG TRAFFICKING, LIKE FENTANYL. IT WOULD BRING TOGETHER KEY FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR JOINT OPERATIONS, DISRUPT TRAFFICKING NETWORKS, AND ENFORCE SANCTIONS.

THE CCP FENTANYL SANCTIONS ACT TARGETS FENTANYL PRODUCERS BY EXPANDING SANCTIONS AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED IN FENTANYL TRAFFICKING AND WOULD GRANT THE PRESIDENT AUTHORITY TO BLOCK FOREIGN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS LINKED TO INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN TRAFFICKING.

THE LEGISLATION ALSO TARGETS CHINESE VESSELS, PORTS, AND ONLINE MARKETPLACES THAT KNOWINGLY FACILITATE THE SHIPMENT OR SALE OF SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS.

THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FROM PRC FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS ACT TARGETS FENTANYL TRAFFICKING BY IMPOSING CIVIL PENALTIES ON PRC SHIPPERS THAT FAIL TO IMPLEMENT TRANSPARENCY AND SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT DRUG SHIPMENTS.

“FOR TOO LONG, CHINA HAS PROFITED FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN LIVES, AND THE FENTANYL CRISIS THEY ARE MANUFACTURING KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES. AS WE CONTINUE OUR WORK FIGHTING THE IMMEDIATE THREAT THE DRUG POSES, WE ARE ALSO GOING AFTER THE CCP AND THEIR CENTRAL ROLE IN SUBSIDIZING, PRODUCING, AND EXPORTING THE PRECURSORS THAT FUEL THIS EPIDEMIC,” SAID REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DAN NEWHOUSE (R-WA).

“FENTANYL HAS TAKEN TOO MANY LOVED ONES AND DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA. WE OWE IT TO THOSE FAMILIES TO CLOSE TRADE LOOPHOLES USED BY THE CCP TO SHIP FENTANYL INTO THE US AND PERPETUATE ONE OF OUR NATION’S WORST DRUG EPIDEMICS,” DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN RO KHANNA (D-CA) SAID.

IT’S UNLIKELY CONGRESS WILL BE ABLE TO PASS THESE BILLS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION – THEY WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE TO REINTRODUCE THEM WHEN THE NEW CONGRESS IS SWORN IN ON JANUARY 3.