Crises Facing America

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the great work that Chairman Johnson has been doing on this for the last few weeks, and I look forward to working with him in the future.

Six days ago, Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the fentanyl crisis in this Chamber. According to the trajectory of the CDC's most recent 12-month data on drug overdose deaths, over 1,600 Americans have died since that speech, 1,600. In reality, I am afraid that number is actually a lot higher thanks to illegally trafficked fentanyl.

Just last week, an unsuspecting high school student in Connecticut overdosed on marijuana laced with fentanyl. Thankfully, that student is all right, but sadly, there are many others who do not survive an overdose.

A man called my office the other day. His son died. He was in the Carolinas, unsuspecting, took a street drug, and it was laced with fentanyl. They said the fentanyl, the pill was still in his mouth, it was that strong.

Our government needs to stop illegal fentanyl from entering the United States right now, Mr. Speaker. Republicans and Democrats must demand more action on this issue from our leaders.

Here in the House, Speaker Pelosi controls the floor schedule and does not say much about illegal fentanyl trafficking. Down Pennsylvania Avenue, at the White House, President Biden issued financial sanctions against foreign smugglers who bring drugs like fentanyl into our country. Mr. Speaker, that is a nice start, but I doubt these cartel thugs and bums will quit the drug trade just because they can't use an American bank.

Earlier today, I delivered a letter to Speaker Pelosi requesting that she do everything in her power to stop fentanyl from entering our country. President Biden received a copy of that letter as well. I urged them to consider my Fentanyl Trafficker Elimination Act, which would sentence fentanyl traffickers to life in prison, as a possible solution to reducing the amount of fentanyl that flows across our borders.

Politically, I have little in common with Speaker Pelosi and President Biden. I met President Biden after the prayer breakfast, and I told him that I don't agree with hardly anything he does, but I pray for him every day, and that is true. However, I believe all three of us agree more needs to be done to stop Americans from overdosing on illegal fentanyl. I think overwhelming majorities in our respective parties feel the same. The American people will be glad to see us put politics aside and do something to reduce the tragic fentanyl overdose deaths that have become too common in our communities.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we spend most of our time up here and, as I have said before, these bridges and post offices aren't going to name themselves. We need to get back to the people's work, Mr. Speaker, and put an end to this tragedy.

As always, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your more-than-lackluster abilities.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source