Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Bob Latta (R-Ohio), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), Addison McDowell (R- N.C.), and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) issued the following statements after the U.S. House passed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act:

"The HALT Fentanyl Act highlights House Republicans’ commitment to tackling deadly fentanyl-related substances and saving lives," Griffith said. "I appreciate Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer and Chairwoman McClain for supporting this critical legislation. The American people, including those in Appalachia, deserve nothing less than safe neighborhoods and safe streets.”

"I'm encouraged the House has overwhelmingly advanced our HALT Fentanyl Act, which will help curb the devastating fentanyl poisoning crisis," Latta said. "While making the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances permanent to get this crisis under control, this bill does not impede research into fentanyl-related substances, nor does it restrict access to fentanyl for those who rely on it for medicinal purposes. I'm proud to have worked on this extremely important bill with my friend, Congressman Griffith, and I'm even more pleased that the House recognized the urgency in which this bill is needed and passed it today. I call upon the Senate to take up our bill immediately and send it to President Trump's desk to be signed into law."

"As someone who has lost a family member to the fentanyl crisis, I know that no community is immune from this epidemic," Bresnahan said. 'We could not afford to sit idly by, and I am proud we took this significant action. The HALT Fentanyl Act confronts this crisis head on, protecting our children, families, and neighbors from this dangerous substance."

"Fentanyl took my little brother Luke’s life. He was just 20 years old. My family’s pain is something too many American families have felt. Fentanyl is a weapon used by our adversaries to weaken our communities," McDowell said. "The HALT Fentanyl Act is about cracking down on traffickers who would rather see our towns devastated than safe and prosperous. This is about saving lives.”
 
"Every single life lost to the fentanyl crisis is more than just a statistic. Our country needs solutions, and House Republicans have taken action to make our communities safer and help save lives," McClain said. "Although this bill should’ve become law sooner, I am glad 98 Democrats joined us today on passage. I commend my colleagues, Congressman Griffith and Congressman Latta, for their tremendous efforts to help stop the deadly fentanyl crisis affecting American families."
 
The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify fentanyl analogues as a Schedule I substance. This designation will equip our border patrol agents and law enforcement officials with the power to go after those who traffic fentanyl analogues into the country and throughout American communities.