North Orlando News

Rep. Mills Legislation Included in HALT Fentanyl Act Passes House 

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Cory Mills (FL-07) released the following statement after his amendment to H.R. 467 passed the House:

“I’m pleased my amendment to the HALT Fentanyl Act passed the House floor today. This important bill will ensure law enforcement have the tools they need to keep fentanyl off our streets while also ensuring practitioners can research fentanyl-related substances and the effects it has on people’s health.

“My amendment to this bill requires the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to complete and submit a report on the Department of Defense’s fentanyl research as well as include the DoD on the list of eligible agencies that qualify for the expedited procedures on fentanyl research.

“The issue of drug addiction is personal to me – both of my parents were incarcerated for substance abuse when I was a child. I saw firsthand what these drugs can do to your loved ones.

“We must not forget the root of the fentanyl crisis: the CCP has waged war on the U.S. by shipping this drug to the Mexican cartels where it is currently being trafficked across our southern border. This epidemic has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans, including service members, who, because of their injuries, have developed addictions to opioids.

“I’m confident this legislation is a step in the right direction to getting this lethal drug off our streets and out of the hands of our brave service members.”

“The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) strongly supports the HALT Fentanyl Act,” said Seminole County, FL Sheriff Dennis Lemma, and MCSA President. “As a leading cause of many deaths in our country, it is incredibly important to permanently classify a fentanyl-related substance as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance. We must have policies like this in place to allow law enforcement to continue our efforts in ending fentanyl-related deaths. We must use all resources we can to stop these poisonings from occurring in our communities, and the number of deaths it causes annually should serve as our shared motivation to pass this bill.”

Volusia County Sheriff Chitwood said, “With lethal fentanyl and its analogues turning up in everything from heroin to cocaine to meth to fake prescription pills, it’s imperative that law enforcement agencies have every tool available to take this poison off the street. Fentanyl analogues simply have to remain Schedule I controlled substances. This legislation and Rep. Mills’ amendment accomplishes that and expedites important fentanyl research that will save lives in the long run. I strongly support this legislation and sincerely thank every member involved in its passage.”

Original source can be found here.