Senator Mccormick, Attorney General Blanche Highlight Progress in Fight Against Fentanyl

WILKES-BARRE, PA — U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) today hosted U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter, U.S. Congressman Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08), and other federal, state, and local officials for a roundtable and press conference on efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and reduce overdose deaths across Pennsylvania. “Every death lost to fentanyl is one too many, and communities across Northeastern Pennsylvania know the devastating toll this drug has taken,” said Senator McCormick . “When federal, state, and local law enforcement have the resources and support they need, we can take on the trafficking networks poisoning our communities and save lives. I’m grateful to President Trump and Attorney General Blanche for making this fight a priority and working with local leaders to turn the tide on this crisis.” “We are taking the fight against fentanyl seriously because we have a President who knows there are real people affected by these crimes,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche . “We cannot rest until the parents, brothers, sisters, and children of the victims of fentanyl poisoning know they will never have a friend or neighbor impacted by the scourge of fentanyl.” “Fentanyl continues to devastate families and communities across Pennsylvania, and we need to do everything we can to stop these deadly drugs from reaching our streets. That means cracking down on drug traffickers, supporting our law enforcement officers, and making sure people struggling with addiction have access to treatment,” said Rep. Bresnahan . “That’s why I secured more than $1 million for the Monroe County District Attorney’s Opioid Crimes Section to help combat drug-related crime and prevent overdose deaths. I thank Attorney General Blanche for joining us today and his work to address this crisis. We need action, accountability, and results to protect our communities and save lives.” Senator McCormick has made combating fentanyl a priority. His first piece of legislation introduced in the Senate was the bipartisan Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025, which would strengthen federal coordination to combat fentanyl trafficking, target cartels and money laundering, and address China’s role in supplying precursor chemicals. Senator McCormick supported the HALT Fentanyl Act, signed into law in July 2025, and introduced the Nitazene Control Act to address the emerging threat of highly potent synthetic opioids. The gathering highlighted the strong partnerships already in place among federal, state, and local law enforcement to disrupt trafficking routes, including the I-81 corridor, and hold those responsible for bringing deadly drugs into Pennsylvania communities accountable. These coordinated efforts are delivering results and demonstrating what can be accomplished when agencies work together toward a common goal. Pennsylvania has seen a significant decline in fentanyl-related deaths, with reported deaths sharply declining from around 4,000 during the peak of the Biden administration to 1,768, according to 2025 preliminary data. Senator McCormick emphasized the importance of building on this progress through continued investment in treatment, recovery, naloxone access, and community organizations helping individuals overcome addiction. Please find photos of the event for download here . ###