WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso, Senate Majority Whip, and U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis, both R-Wyo., praised the U.S. Senate for passing the HALT Fentanyl Act. The legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and cosponsored by Barrasso and Lummis, will help stop the stream of illicit fentanyl-related drugs across our borders.

Fentanyl has quickly become one of the top causes of death among young Americans, with a large portion of it originating across our borders. Approximately 1.1 billion doses were seized at U.S. ports of entry between October 2023 to October 2024. Some fentanyl-related substances (FRS) fly under the radar of current regulations due to minor changes in their chemical composition – despite delivering the same deadly effects as traditional fentanyl. This legislation would make FRS drugs subject to the same legal consequences as traditional fentanyl and stop cross-border trafficking in its tracks.

“Fentanyl trafficking has made every state a border state – even Wyoming,” said Senator Barrasso. “Most Americans know someone who has lost a loved one to fentanyl. It’s also harmful to law enforcement officers and first responders who fight its effects in our communities every day. Passing the HALT Fentanyl Act will help turn the tide on this epidemic and enable law enforcement to stem the flow of deadly drugs across our border. This bill will save lives and start to clean up the border mess left behind by the Biden administration.”

“For years, the Biden administration’s open border policies enabled cartels to flood our communities with lethal drugs, and as a result, fentanyl-related deaths are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18-45,” said Lummis. “The HALT Act gives law enforcement the tools necessary to protect lives and combat this crisis. Sadly, every state has been impacted by these illicit drugs – we must continue to do all we can to end this heartbreaking crisis.”

Co-sponsors of this legislation include U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

The HALT Fentanyl Act will:

• Classify fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as part of Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, which would establish that they have a high potential for abuse, have no recognized medical value, and are subject to certain regulations and criminal penalties.

• Establish that crimes involving FRS are penalized according to the same quantity thresholds as those involving traditional fentanyl.

• Change existing regulations to allow improved research on controlled substances.

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