New law will combat the opioid crisis by targeting the fentanyl supply chain, from the chemical suppliers in China to the cartels that traffic the drugs from Mexico
Since bill was introduced last April, Casey has traveled across Pennsylvania pushing for its passage
Casey: “The transnational criminals responsible for the fentanyl crisis will finally be held accountable for their devastation”
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded the President signing into law the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act after the Senate passed it last evening. This new law will combat the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania by targeting the fentanyl supply chain, from the chemical suppliers in China to the cartels that traffic the drugs from Mexico. Casey championed the bill since its introduction, and over the last several months has traveled across Pennsylvania advocating for its passage. The Senate originally passed this bill in July 2023, and again in February 2024, but the House of Representatives finally voted to pass it last week.
“In passing the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, we are finally cracking down on the Chinese criminal organizations and Mexican cartels who manufacture and traffic fentanyl into the United States,” said Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). “As I travel across Pennsylvania, I’ve heard from far too many families who have lost a loved one to the fentanyl crisis, and I carry their stories with me to Washington as I’ve pushed to get this bill passed. While we’ll never be able to bring their loved ones back, I hope this brings a measure of justice to these families knowing that the transnational criminals responsible for the fentanyl crisis will finally be held accountable for their devastation.”
The United States is facing the worst drug crisis in history. Accidental drug overdoses were the number one cause of death for Pennsylvanians under 40, and a total of 5,200 Pennsylvanians died from drug overdoses in 2022. In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized over 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl enough to supply a lethal dose to every American. The FEND Off Fentanyl Act is a sanctions and anti-money laundering bill to help combat the country’s fentanyl crisis by targeting opioid traffickers devastating America’s communities. The bill will enhance current law so U.S. government agencies can more effectively disrupt illicit opioid supply chains and penalize those facilitating the trafficking of fentanyl. It also ensures that sanctions are imposed not only on those engaged in the illicit drug trade, but also in the money laundering that makes it profitable. Prior to passage, the bill earned support from a number of law enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Officers, the National Sheriff’s Association, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Since the bill’s introduction, Senator Casey has traveled across Pennsylvania and met with law enforcement, opioid treatment providers, and the families of fentanyl victims to underscore the importance of passing the bill. He made stops to discuss the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act and push for its passage in Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Scranton.
Senator Casey has made fighting the fentanyl crisis one of his top priorities. In January, he introduced the Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, which increases staffing capacity and technology to detect illicit drugs and other contraband being smuggled through ports of entry along the border. Casey has also pushed President Biden to prioritize additional resources to strengthen the security at the southwest border to stop the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl through ports of entry along the border. In addition, Casey has also introduced bills to support grandparents raising grandchildren, many of whom have been impacted by the opioid crisis, and to eliminate the cost of opioid treatment and recovery support services for those who need it. A full timeline of Senator Casey’s work to combat the opioid crisis can be found here.
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