What They Are Saying: Over One Million Law Enforcement Officers Call for Immediate, Clean Senate Passage of HALT Fentanyl Act

WASHINGTON– Major law enforcement organizations representing over1,000,000 officers nationwide, are calling on the Senate to pass theHalt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Actimmediately and without amendments. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) isleading the pushto permanently classify illicit fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, alongside Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).
The White House todayreaffirmed the administration’ssupportfor the legislation in its current form. The bill will likely receive a final Senate vote next week.
Law enforcement organizations backing theHALT Fentanyl Act’sswift and clean passage include the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Major Counties Chiefs Association, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies, the National District Attorneys Association, the National HIDTA Directors Association, the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the United States Park Police Fraternal Order of Police and the NYPDSergeants Benevolent Association.
The above organizations represent law enforcement agencies across all 50 states, including the major metropolitan areas of New York City, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.
Here’s what they’re saying:
The National Association of Police Organizations:“Time is of the essence. The DEA’s temporary authority to schedule all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under theControlled Substances Actends on March 31… We supported the technical changes that had to be made when the Judiciary Committee approved the manager’s amendment last week, but otherwiseurged the Committee to advance this critical legislation without further modification, which it did… We are now urging the Senate to swiftly pass S. 331 without amendment”
The National Fraternal Order of Police:“[TheHalt Fentanyl Act], which permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into Schedule I of theControlled Substances Act, would save lives and make our communities safer.We thank Leader Thune for putting the bill on the floor and strongly urge the Senate to pass it without amendment.”
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association:“FLEOA thanks @LeaderJohnThune for advancing S. 331/HALT Fentanyl Act.We urge all Senators to quickly pass this measure as-is, without further amendment, and give @DEAHQ permanent scheduling authority for fentanyl-related substances.”
The Major County Sheriffs of America:“The opioid crisis is devastating our nation. The Senate must pass theHALT Fentanyl Actwithout delay or changes to give law enforcement the tools to combat this deadly epidemic.We can't afford further delay – let’s act now for public safety.”
The NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association:“Last month, the Sergeants Benevolent Association joined its partner law enforcement organizations in calling on the Judiciary Committee to advance this critical legislation without delay or modification.We now respectfully request that all senators support passage of S. 331 as approved by the Judiciary Committee and without further amendment.”
A coalition of 11 national, state and local law enforcement organizations:“The opioid epidemic continues to claim the lives of hundreds of Americans every day. As this crisis escalates, every delay in addressing it only increases the toll on our communities.For the sake of public safety, it is imperative that the Senate pass theHALT Fentanyl Actas it stands, without changes, and move it forward to law.”
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