Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act.

Mr. Chair, this bill is not a solution to the proliferation of Fentanyl Related Substances (FRS) in America. We need legislation that will actually save lives while stopping illicit drug sales.

There are lifesaving, bipartisan bills like the SAFE Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Pappas, that work with the medical community to protect medically beneficial FRSs. The SAFE Act also prevents harmful mandatory minimum sentences for people who may not even know they have a Fentanyl Related Substance in their possession. These are necessary guardrails that Republicans' HALT Fentanyl Act fails to include.

Congress should not be playing doctor, but instead pass a comprehensive bill that reflects the input of medical professionals, addiction specialists, researchers, and law enforcement. Republicans are trying to present a ``quick and easy'' solution to a complex problem.

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