Murphy Applauds Passage of HALT Fentanyl Act

February 6, 2025 Press Release Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement in response to the House of Representatives passing H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act. "The opioid epidemic in the United States is ripping through our communities and taking innocent lives," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "No parent should bear the burden of losing their child, yet fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old. Fentanyl-related compounds and derivatives are being produced in China and flowing into our country at an unprecedented rate through Mexico. We cannot delay aggressive action any further to end this scourge. I proudly voted in favor of the HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs and ensure our law enforcement has the resources they need to keep these drugs off our streets." Background Fentanyl-related substances are similar to fentanyl but have slight chemical variations and do not fall under the same classification. In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the leadership of President Trump, classified these substances as Schedule I on an emergency basis. This action has been extended by Congress until March 31, 2025. Watch my remarks in support of this bill here .