Sinema Votes to Help Stem Flow of Opioids into U.S.

Press Release

Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) voted today to reduce the flow of deadly fentanyl and other synthetic opioids entering Arizona through the mail. The Securing the International Mail Against Opioids Act passed the House with Sinema's vote. It empowers the United States Postal Service (USPS) to coordinate data sharing with law enforcement and target high-risk packages before they reach our communities.

"Arizona communities are too familiar with the pain and suffering caused by the opioid epidemic," said Congresswoman Sinema. "We're fighting back, taking steps to interrupt the supply chain of deadly drugs and keep them out of Arizona. I'll keep working across the aisle until we make this bill law."

Earlier this year, the Arizona Daily Star reportedthat federal agents had seized $600 million dollars of fentanyl ingredients shipped from China to Nogales, Arizona. The shipments were enough to produce some 30 million doses of the deadly drug.

The legislation would require USPS to transmit advance electronic data (AED) on nearly all international packages by 2022. Significantly, the bill would also direct diplomatic efforts to coordinate with foreign postal services on the transmission of AED and empower USPS to take remedial actions if foreign postal services are not compliant.

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