Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Grassley-Led HALT Fentanyl Act to Permanently Schedule Fentanyl-Related Substances

Download videoHERE
WASHINGTON–Today, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to pass 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.
Last month, theHALT Fentanyl Actwaspassedout of the Senate Judiciary 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. Thelegislationnow heads to the House of Representatives.
“TheHALT Fentanyl Actis a critical step towards ending the crisis that’s killing hundreds of thousands of precious American lives. I thank my Senate colleagues for passing this bill with broad, overwhelming support. I urge my House colleagues to swiftly pass the Senate version of this battle-tested, bipartisan bill to save lives, advance research and support our brave men and women in blue,”Grassley said.
Grassley, Cassidy, and Heinrichintroducedthe legislation in January, and Grassley has repeatedlyspoken in favorof the legislation on theSenatefloorand in theJudiciary Committee.
TheHALT Fentanyl Actis supported by over 40 major advocacy groups, including a coalition of over 200 impacted family groups, andlaw enforcement organizationsrepresenting over a million officers. Learn more about the bill’s widespread supportHERE.
Download bill textHEREand a fact sheetHERE.
-30-