Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the HALT Fentanyl Act, critical legislation to crack down on the criminals who produce, traffic, and sell fentanyl and fentanyl- related substances.

Earlier this year, we were able to hear powerful testimony from two of my constituents, Ray and Deb Cullen, who tragically lost their son, Zach, to fentanyl poisoning. Unfortunately, they are not alone in this pathway to pain. Last year, one Pennsylvanian died from an overdose every 2 hours, with the overwhelming majority of these resulting from fentanyl poisoning.

We owe it to our future generations to end this plague on our society by passing the HALT Fentanyl Act.

Our courageous Border Patrol and law enforcement officers will be more effective in removing fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances that come across our border, end up in our communities, and poison our children, friends, and neighbors.

Additionally, this legislation will also result in harsher penalties for the criminals and cartel members who are responsible for the spread of this poison. As a nation, we can no longer sit by while future generations of American workers, parents, and community leaders are taken away from us.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation today and to save the lives of so many throughout this great country. It is time to halt fentanyl.

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