Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 747) to impose sanctions with respect to Chinese producers of synthetic opioids and opioid precursors, to hold Chinese officials accountable for the spread of illicit fentanyl, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 747
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should--
(1) work with the United States Government to identify a list of unregulated chemicals used to create precursor chemicals that bear increased scrutiny;
(2) require the proper labeling of chemical and equipment shipments in accordance with international rules;
(3) immediately implement ``know-your-customer'' procedures for chemical shipments; and
(4) direct all relevant departments and agencies, including the National Narcotics Control Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration of the Government of the People's Republic of China to establish new rules to crack down on precursor trafficking and enforce such rules swiftly. SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE FENTANYL SANCTIONS ACT.
(a) Definitions.--Section 7203(5) of the Fentanyl Sanctions Act (21 U.S.C. 2302(5)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The term `foreign opioid trafficker' means any foreign person'' and inserting the following: ``The term `foreign opioid trafficker'--
``(A) means any foreign person'';
(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) includes--
``(i) any entity of the People's Republic of China that the President determines--
``(I) produces, manufactures, distributes, sells, or knowingly finances or transports any goods described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (8)(A); and
``(II) fails to take credible steps, including through implementation of appropriate know-your-customer procedures or through cooperation with United States counternarcotics efforts, to detect or prevent opioid trafficking; and
``(ii) any senior official of the Government of the People's Republic of China or other Chinese political official that--
``(I) has significant regulatory or law enforcement responsibilities with respect to the activities of an entity described in clause (i); and
``(II) aids and abets, including through intentional inaction, opioid trafficking.''.
(b) Identification of Foreign Opioid Traffickers.--Section 7211 of the Fentanyl Sanctions Act (21 U.S.C. 2311) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by adding at the end before the semicolon the following: ``, including whether the heads of the National Narcotics Control Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration of the Government of the People's Republic of China are foreign opioid traffickers''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``5 years'' and inserting ``10 years''. SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POWERS ACT AND THE TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT.
(a) Periodic Evaluation.--Section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Periodic Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--If the authority granted to the President under this section is exercised with respect to a covered national emergency, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees, not less frequently than annually, a periodic evaluation in writing that--
``(A) assesses the effectiveness of the exercise of such authority in resolving the covered national emergency;
``(B) considers the views of public- and private-sector stakeholders; and
``(C) discusses any potential changes to the exercise of the authority for the purpose of more effectively resolving the covered national emergency.
``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives; and
``(ii) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
``(B) the term `covered national emergency' means a national emergency that--
``(i) the President has declared, within the preceding 5- year period, with respect to any national emergency regarding international drug trafficking; and
``(ii) has not terminated.''.
(b) Consultation and Reports.--Section 204 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1703) is amended--
(1) by striking ``the Congress'' each place it appears and inserting ``the appropriate congressional committees''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term `appropriate congressional committees' has the meaning given that term in section 203(d)(2).''.
(3) Authority to issue regulations.--Section 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1704) is amended--
(A) by striking ``The President'' and inserting ``(a) The President''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) In issuing regulations under subsection (a) pursuant to a covered national emergency (as defined in section 203), the President shall--
``(1) consider the costs and benefits of available statutory and regulatory alternatives;
``(2) evaluate the costs and benefits for the purpose of expeditiously resolving the applicable national emergency;
``(3) establish criteria for the eventual termination of the applicable national emergency; and
``(4) include in the basis and purpose incorporated in the regulations--
``(A) an explanation of how the regulations will resolve the applicable national emergency; and
``(B) a discussion of the costs and benefits.''. SEC. 5. EXCEPTION RELATING TO IMPORTATION OF GOODS.
(a) In General.--The authorities and requirements to impose sanctions in this Act shall not include the authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
(b) Good Defined.--In this section, the term ``good'' means any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Representative Barr's Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025.
Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. It is killing over 70,000 Americans a year, and it is flooding into our communities with deadly force.
We know where it is coming from. The vast majority of illegal fentanyl in the U.S. originates in China. Chinese labs manufacture the chemicals. Chinese traffickers supply the cartels, and American families pay the price in lives lost.
This bill holds the Chinese Communist Party accountable. It gives our government stronger tools to sanction Chinese entities involved in the fentanyl trade and puts pressure on the CCP to shut down the labs that fuel this crisis.
It is time to treat this for what it is: a national security threat.
The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act sends a clear message: The United States will not sit back while foreign actors profit from American pain.
House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, August 29, 2025. Hon. Brian Mast, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Mast: I write regarding H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025. Provisions of this bill fall within the Judiciary Committee's Rule X jurisdiction, and I appreciate that you consulted with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee agrees that it shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
The Committee takes this action with the understanding that forgoing further consideration of this measure does not in any way alter the Committee's jurisdiction or waive any future jurisdictional claim over these provisions or their subject matter. We also reserve the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees in the event of a conference with the Senate involving this measure or similar legislation.
I ask that you please insert this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 747 on the House floor. I appreciate the cooperative manner in which our committees have worked on this matter, and I look forward to working collaboratively in the future on matters of shared jurisdiction. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Jim Jordan, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, September 2, 2025. Hon. Jim Jordan, Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Jordan: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I further note your identification of language regarding export matters that may require further modification prior to final consideration of this legislation. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on this bill into the Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Brian Mast, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Washington, DC, August 28, 2025. Hon. Brian Mast, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Mast: I write regarding H.R. 747, the ``Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025,'' which contains legislative provisions within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will forgo formal consideration of the legislation. I do so with the understanding that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill that fall within its jurisdiction. I also request that you urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to any conference committee that is named to consider such provisions.
Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 747 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of this legislation on the House floor. Sincerely, James Comer, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, September 2, 2025. Hon. James Comer, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Comer: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I further note your identification of language regarding export matters that may require further modification prior to final consideration of this legislation. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on this bill into the Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Brian Mast, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, June 13, 2025. Hon. Brian Mast, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Dear Chairman Mast: This letter is in regard to the jurisdictional interest of the House Financial Services Committee in matters within H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025.
In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 747, the House Financial Services Committee agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction.
The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and requests your support for such request.
Finally, I respectfully request a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 747, as amended. and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Sincerely, French Hill, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, September 2, 2025. Hon. French Hill, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hill: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I further note your identification of language regarding export matters that may require further modification prior to final consideration of this legislation. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on this bill into the Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Brian Mast, Chairman.
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Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025 is not just about policy. It is about saving American lives. We must hold China accountable for its role in this deadly epidemic. Congress must take a stand against the poison devastating our communities.
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Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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