Sunshine Sentinel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 7, 2024, Senator Rick Scott’s bipartisan legislation, the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act, passed the House of Representatives marking a unanimous full Congressional passage, and now heads to the president’s desk. The END FENTANYL Act will require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to update its policies at least once every three years to ensure operational field manuals, including their drug interdiction guidance, are up to date. This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Mike Braun, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen and Mark Kelly. Representatives Michael Guest and David Trone led the charge in the House of Representatives.

Senator Rick Scott said, “For too long, the fentanyl crisis has plagued our communities and caused crushing heartbreak to those who lose loved ones to these dangerous drugs. As fentanyl continues to flow illegally into the U.S. over the southern border and kills tens of thousands of our citizens, we must do more to support our brave CBP agents, and all who are on the front lines of this battle to ensure they have every tool needed to keep these dangerous drugs out of our communities. Passage of the END FENTANYL Act is a big win in our fight against the lethal opioid epidemic, but it is not the end. I am thankful for my colleagues in the House and Senate voting for its passage, and I urge the president to quickly sign it into law.”

Senator Mike Braun said, “The fentanyl crisis is ripping Hoosier families apart. The Mexican drug cartels are pushing this poison onto our streets through our southern border, and the END FENTANYL Act passing the House is a big step for fighting this crisis.”

Senator Jacky Rosen said, “When I visited the southern border earlier this year, I saw firsthand how law enforcement is working hard every day to stop the flow of fentanyl and deadly drugs into our country. Our bipartisan legislation will support law enforcement’s efforts by giving them the additional tools and training necessary to prevent fentanyl smuggling and help save lives. Far too many communities across Nevada have been impacted by the fentanyl crisis, and I’m glad to see our bipartisan END FENTANYL Act is now headed to the president’s desk to become law.”

Senator Mark Kelly said, “As a border senator, I know firsthand how illicit fentanyl trafficking harms Arizona families. This bill that’s now headed to the President’s desk to become law will ensure CBP officers can better tackle the crisis to prevent criminals from trafficking these deadly drugs through our ports and stem human smuggling activity.”  

Senator Maggie Hassan said, “I am glad to see this commonsense, bipartisan bill headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. This will help law enforcement stay ahead of the changing tactics of drug traffickers and better stem the flow of fentanyl across the border and on to New Hampshire, where it has devastated communities and families. This bill is an important step forward and I will continue working to combat the fentanyl crisis.” 

Representative Michael Guest said, “It’s time we take a hard stance against the smuggling of this deadly drug. With this legislation, we’re fighting to protect the American people from letting drug smugglers bring fentanyl into our communities. I am proud that the END FENTANYL Act is on its way to becoming law.”

Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council, said, “America’s fentanyl overdose and poisoning crisis has become truly horrific. And sadly, it can all be traced back to a lack of border security and the trafficking of this deadly poison across our border with Mexico. I applaud the passage of Senator Rick Scott’s bipartisan legislation that will improve CBP’s detection of lethal narcotics such as fentanyl. We must do everything we can to stop the flow of hard narcotics like fentanyl from coming into our country and we will continue to push for border security solutions that keep these poisons out of our communities.” 

The American Trucking Association’s Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer Ed Gilroy said, “The trucking industry reaches every corner of the country, and we have seen firsthand the staggering toll the fentanyl crisis has had on individuals and families nationwide. To combat this devastating scourge, our industry has worked to raise public awareness, supported addiction and recovery programs, and partnered with law enforcement. The END FENTANYL Act would complement these efforts by ensuring CBP officers have the proper guidance to perform inspections and effectively intercept fentanyl before it reaches our communities. ATA commends Senator Scott and Congressman Guest’s leadership and appreciates Congress' swift passage of this legislation, which will help to remove this deadly drug from our community and save countless lives.” 

The END FENTANYL Act:

• Requires the Commissioner of CBP to review and update the Office of Field Operations’ policies and handbooks, as necessary and at least once every three years in order to respond to illegal activity, such as the trafficking of drugs and humans, along the border.
• Requires the Commissioner of CBP to submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that summarizes the policy and manual changes every three years.

Original source can be found here.