Newhouse Demands Biden Secure Southern Border, Address Fentanyl Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after joining 117 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging his Administration take immediate action on the influx of fentanyl streaming into our country by securing our borders and making fentanyl-related substances’ Schedule 1 classification permanent to ensure law enforcement can continue to prosecute the sale and use of these substances.

“President Biden’s open-border policies have created a fentanyl crisis—and no community is immune. I regularly meet with Central Washington law enforcement officers whose departments and communities are plagued by this crisis,” said Rep. Newhouse. “It is irresponsible for House Democrats and the Biden Administration to repeatedly deflect and ignore calls to address this and assist our law enforcement communities who are on the front lines. It is imperative the Biden Administration take immediate action to protect our communities from this devastating drug, which includes securing our southern border by investing in technology, hiring more customs and border patrol agents, and, most importantly, completing the border wall. That is why just this week I introduced legislation that would restart the much-delayed construction of our southwest border wall.”

Background:

• Rep. Newhouse is a staunch advocate of completing our southern border and has been involved in numerous efforts seeking its completion. He previously served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, during which time he fought to increase border security by supporting President Trump’s efforts.
• This week, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Dignity Act, which  restarts all currently paused border infrastructure contracts and increases funding for physical border infrastructure.
• Last week, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Law Enforcement Officers Preventing (Drug) Abuse Related Deaths or LEOPARD Act. This bill authorizes rural community response pilot grant programs to allow state and local law enforcement agencies to purchase naloxone, an effective tool to prevent and reduce opioid overdose deaths and directs at least 50% of the programs’ grant funding to rural communities.
• Last March, Rep. Newhouse’s legislation, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, passed the House on a bipartisan basis. This legislation creates a viable and desperately-needed agriculture labor program, removing opportunities to work illegally in the United States, strengthening our border security, and ensuring we have a reliable, legal workforce for our farms and ranches for years to come.
• Drug overdoses have claimed more Americans lives each year than ever before. Fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances are fueling the overdose epidemic, killing 64,178 Americans between May 2020 and April 2021 and making up 64% of total U.S. overdose deaths. This highly lethal synthetic opioid is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
• Fentanyl-related substances have been on a temporary scheduling for Schedule I classification. The Schedule I classification will expire March 11, 2022, when government funding expires. The letter seeks to make the Schedule I classification of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances permanent, meaning no medical benefit for this drug and would ensure current and future fentanyl-related substances remain Schedule I drugs, to ensure law enforcement can continue to prosecute the sale and use of these substances.

You can read the full letter here and below.

Dear President Biden:

Drug overdoses claim more American lives each year than ever before. Fentanyl and fentanyl related substances are fueling the overdose epidemic, killing 64,178 Americans between May 2020 and April 2021 and making up 64 percent of total U.S. overdose deaths. This highly lethal synthetic opioid is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The flood of fentanyl related substances pouring across our borders and the looming February 18 expiration deadline on fentanyl related substances' current Schedule I classification raise grave concerns for our communities. As you are aware, Congress is considering legislation that would temporarily extend the expiration deadline to March 11, 2022. We write to you today to urge your administration to take immediate action to stem the fentanyl scourge coming from China and across our southern border and continue to support making fentanyl related substances' Schedule I classification permanent.

As you know, preserving fentanyl related substances' Schedule I classification ensures law enforcement has the tools they need to combat this threat and take swift action against traffickers of this deadly drug. We understand the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has requested the required scientific and medical evaluation of the class of drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they have already begun their 8-factor analysis. Congress is also working to pass legislation that would achieve this important goal. We urge you to support the preservation of fentanyl related substances' status to save lives.

As you are aware, China has been the principal source of the precursor agents from which fentanyl is produced. Fentanyl is then manufactured in foreign underground labs and smuggled across our southern border.4 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a 1,066% increase in fentanyl seized at eight Southern Texas ports during Fiscal Year 2021.5 Your administration's failure to properly secure our southern border and hold China accountable for fentanyl production directly contribute to the crisis in our communities.

We again urge you to take immediate and decisive action to protect American communities from this deadly drug. We stand ready to assist in this important mission.

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