WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rubén Marinelarena Gallego (D-AZ) introduced a bipartisan bill called the Continuing High-Quality Evaluations of Concerning and Known Persons of Interest through National Training Updates (CHECKPOINT) Act.
The act aims to modernize and improve U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints by formally codifying the Checkpoint Program Management Office to oversee performance, data collection, and interagency coordination, while enhancing training for agents.
In a joint press release between the two senators, Sen. Rick Scott said, “The Trump administration is making tremendous strides to secure our border and combat fentanyl and other deadly drugs coming into our communities and devastating families across the country. Our bipartisan bill, the CHECKPOINT Act, will continue those efforts and provide tools, training, and resources to ensure our Border Patrol agents are equipped to respond to what on-the-ground agents see every day.
Sen. Rubén Gallego elaborated on how Fentanyl and other illegal substances have been flooding local Arizona communities.
“Fentanyl is pouring across our border and poisoning Arizona communities. Border Patrol agents are on the front lines of fighting this crisis, and we need to make sure they have the training and tools to do their jobs effectively.” he said.
The Fentanyl epidemic has been sweeping across U.S. communities and according to a report conducted by the CDC in 2022, Fentanyl and other synthetic opioid substances have been responsible for close to 83,000 deaths.
“Fentanyl has shifted from exclusively being produced by pharmaceutical companies to now also coming from drug cartels and other entities,” David Fiellin, MD said in an article released by Yale Medicine.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed the CHECKPOINT Act in February 2024, but the Senate and House of Representatives still need to consider it.
