Fentanyl Crisis

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the unimaginable amount of dangerous fentanyl and related substances that are crossing our southern border, enough to kill every American seven times over.

Criminal drug cartels are capitalizing on the lack of security due to Biden's open-border policies. Since these large amounts of fentanyl are flooding in, the DEA issued its first public safety alert in 6 years, warning the public about fake pills laced with lethal doses of fentanyl, and we are seeing the devastating effects.

Synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, account for nearly two-thirds of the overdose deaths, including American teenagers. Many parents across our country, and including my home State of Oklahoma, have tragically lost their children to accidental fentanyl overdoses. No one should ever have to experience that sort of pain.

In February, we have the chance to respond. The emergency class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances is set to expire. Democrats want to enact only temporary extensions, while Republicans are fighting to make it permanent.

Madam Speaker, there are deadly consequences to the lack of security at the border. We must ensure law enforcement has the resources to protect our country and keep those drugs out of American hands.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source