Greg Walden Statement on House Passage of Bill to Combat Illicit Fentanyl Use

Statement

Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement after the House passed the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act, which extends the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) access to the tools necessary to combat fentanyl-related substances.

"Synthetic opioids, like fentanyl and its many analogues, have ravaged communities across Oregon and our entire nation," said Walden. "In just a one-year period, synthetic opioids like fentanyl claimed more than 32,000 Americans lives. Today, Congress continued progress made last year to combat the opioid epidemic by ensuring that all fentanyl-related substances are considered illegal. Reauthorizing the DEA's ability to schedule all fentanyl substances will help us continue to combat this deadly crisis that has taken far too many lives. The House passage of this bill is welcome news for Oregonians and for all Americans."

Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. There are countless types of fentanyl analogues, which are similar in chemical structure to fentanyl, but can be even more potent. Previously, deadly fentanyl analogues were not considered scheduled controlled drugs, meaning that law enforcement had no control over them. To fight this epidemic, the DEA used emergency authorities to temporarily schedule all fentanyl-related substances. The Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act extended the DEA's ability to schedule all fentanyl analogues.

"Last Congress, we passed the bipartisan SUPPORT Act, which has since provided the most historic effort from Congress to combat the opioid crisis," said Walden. "I am proud that today Congress was once again able to put partisanship aside and ensure that law enforcement have the tools they need to fight trafficking of fentanyl-related substances. I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law so we can continue our fight against the opioid epidemic. Of course, while progress was made today, we must continue to stay vigilant as we work to end this crisis."

The extension for the DEA's ability to schedule all fentanyl-related substances is set to expire February 6, 2020. The Senate has already passed this extension and the legislation will now be sent to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.

Prior to the House vote, Walden spoke on the House Floor urging his colleagues to support the legislation. You can watch his remarks on the House Floor here.

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