Senate Judiciary Committee Advances HALT Fentanyl Act

WASHINGTON– The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to advance theHalt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act.The bipartisan legislation, led by Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances before their temporary Schedule I status expires on March 31, 2025.
TheHALT Fentanyl Actwas passed out of Committee by a bipartisan vote of 16-5. Attorney General Pam Bondi hasendorsedthe legislation. President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget hasconfirmedthat, if Congress passes the bill in its current form, the president will sign it.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee’s broad, bipartisan passage of theHALT Fentanyl Actis an important step towards ending our nation’s deadly opioid epidemic,”Grassley said. “Congress has a dwindling shot clock to pass this bill before fentanyl-related substances’ Schedule I status runs out. I urge my congressional colleagues to continue moving this legislation forward, so we can make permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogs the law of the land.”
“Chinese fentanyl was pouring into the U.S. under President Biden’s open border. Law enforcement needs every tool possible to combat this,”Cassidy said. “I am grateful for Chairman Grassley’s quick work to move this through the Judiciary Committee. Let’s make it law.”
“I’m pleased that myHALT Fentanyl Actis one step closer to becoming law,”Heinrich said. "My legislation now heads to the Senate floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass it. TheHALT Fentanyl Actis urgently needed to help our law enforcement crack down on illegal trafficking, get deadly fentanyl out of our communities, and save lives.”
TheHALT Fentanyl Actis supported by over 40 major advocacy groups, including a coalition of over 200 impacted family groups. Learn more about the bill’s widespread supportHERE.
Download bill textHEREand a fact sheetHERE.
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