U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ “Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act” passed the Senate today. The bill restricts and reduces the impact of deadly fentanyl in Montana communities by permanently classifying fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, which is reserved for drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Today, the bill passed the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support.
“Under Joe Biden our border spiraled out of control and every state felt the burden, including Montana. Just last week I met with law enforcement in Gallatin County to talk about the impacts of fentanyl from the border, and it’s a deadly problem that needs to be addressed. I’m glad to work with my colleagues on this commonsense legislation that will crack down on drug trafficking and help make our country safe again,” said Daines.
“I applaud Senator Daines and his colleagues in the Senate for voting to save American lives. For years, the Biden administration’s open border policies allowed fentanyl to flow into the country unfettered, killing Americans and Montanans at unprecedented rates and destroying communities across the country. The HALT Fentanyl Act will help end the crisis and give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to hold fentanyl traffickers accountable,” said Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
Read the text of the bill HERE.
Background:
The “HALT Fentanyl Act” makes permanent the temporary classification of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs as Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. It also removes barriers that impede researchers from conducting studies on these substances.
Recently, Daines met with Gallatin County Undersheriff Jeremy Kopp and Commander of the Missouri River Drug Task Force Nathan Kamerman in Bozeman, Montana, to learn about the effects of Biden’s wide-open southern border, including the scourge of fentanyl in Montana communities. Watch a video recap HERE. Download TV elements from the meeting HERE and pictures HERE.
###
Contact: Matt Lloyd, Rachel Dumke