Calling for Permanent Scheduling for Fentanyl Analogues

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the HALT Fentanyl Act when it comes to the floor tomorrow.

For the past 5 years, I have engaged with law enforcement, public health experts, and colleagues across the aisle to ensure the scheduling of fentanyl analogues doesn't lapse and is finally made permanent.

Permanent scheduling will ensure that law enforcement retains important tools they need to tackle the opioid crisis and hold traffickers accountable. These are tools that have helped drive down drug-related deaths in New Hampshire to the lowest levels in 10 years.

This is thanks to New Hampshire's all-hands-on-deck approach, pairing enforcement with treatment to bring down both the supply of opioids reaching our communities as well as the demand for them.

There is still work to be done, including getting this bill across the finish line and restoring vital funding that was cut by the current administration for treatment and recovery.

I will continue fighting to ensure that our communities have the support that they need to save lives and confront addiction head-on.

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