US Senator Rick Scott’s (R-FL) Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act has unanimously passed through both the US Senate and House of Representatives.
Senator Scott introduced the bill last year and the Senate subsequently approved the legislation in June 2023.
The House had been considering the bill since then and unanimously approved it on March 7th, 2024.
The Act authorizes and compels the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to take the actions necessary to freeze the illegal Fentanyl drug trade.
Specifically, the CBP commissioner is required to review and update the Office of Field Operations’ policies and handbooks to include measures tailored to combatting drug and human trafficking.
To ensure CBP compliance with the act, the commissioner is required to submit a report to Senate and House committees summarizing policy and manual changes every three years.
Scott skeptically lauded the legislation’s passage, explaining that the fight against fentanyl is only just beginning.
“ Passage of the END FENTANYL Act is a big win in our fight against the lethal opioid epidemic, but it is not the end,” said Scott.
Scott continued, claiming that “we must do more to support our brave CBP agents, and all who are on the front lines of this battle to ensure they have every tool needed to keep these dangerous drugs out of our communities.”
Illegal Fentanyl trafficking has been at the forefront of national policy debates, as thousands of Americans have died in recent years due to abusing the drug.
Conservatives have blamed the Southern border’s instability as facilitating the influx of Fentanyl.
Last night, first lady Jill Biden invited Justin Phillips, the founder of fentanyl overdose non-profit Overdose lifeline, to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address as a distinguished guest.
Similarly, Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA) invited the parents of Sebastian Kidd, a 17-year old killed by fentanyl poisoning, to attend the address.
Sebastian’s parents, Deric and Kathy Kidd, blamed the border migratory crisis for the death of their son.
"We can’t help but think that our son may still be here if policies were enforced," they said. "If the border was under control."
