The HALT Fentanyl Act sponsors emphasize that by making the classification of fentanyl permanent, law enforcement will have an enhanced ability to combat the dangerous drug.
Senator Heinrich expressed his commitment to providing law enforcement with the necessary resources to prevent the distribution of fentanyl in communities.
He stated, “Making the scheduling of fentanyl and its analogues permanent will empower federal and local authorities to better address illegal trafficking and enable prosecutors to establish more robust criminal cases. The implementation of our HALT Fentanyl Act is expected to impede the influx of these lethal substances into our communities, ultimately leading to saved lives.”
Sen. Martin Heinrich was one of the senators who led the reintroduction of the Halt Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act. (Getty Images)
The legislation also removes barriers that impede the ability of researchers to conduct studies on fentanyl-related substances and allows for exemptions if such research provides evidence that it would be beneficial for specific substances to be classified differently than Schedule I, like for medical purposes.
Cassidy, Grassley and Heinrich were joined by Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Todd Young, R-Ind., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., John Kennedy R-La., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., in introducing the legislation.
The U.S. House of Representatives previously passed the HALT Fentanyl Act in March 2023.
