Washington D.C -Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers delivered the following remarks about the urgent need to extend the emergency scheduling on fentanyl analogues. She urged Democrats to work with Republicans for a permanent solution-not just a temporary extension-to stop the scourge of fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths.
Key from her remarks: “While I will vote in favor of this bill today-because allowing this life-saving order to expire is unacceptable- this short term extension from the Democratic Majority fails to meet the gravity of the situation facing our communities, our border, and our country."
While I will vote in favor of this bill today - because allowing this life-saving order to expire is unacceptable - this short-term extension from the Democrats fails to meet the gravity of the fentanyl situation facing our communities, our border, and our country. pic.twitter.com/tyWQYrtXZt
- CathyMcMorrisRodgers (@cathymcmorris) April 21, 2021
Her remarks as prepared for delivery:
WE NEED A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO SAVE LIVES
“I am disappointed we are kicking the can down the road with a very short term extension of the DEA’s emergency scheduling order to keep dangerous fentanyl analogues in Schedule I.
“While I will vote in favor of this bill today-because allowing this life-saving order to expire is unacceptable- this short term extension from the Democratic Majority fails to meet the gravity of the situation facing our communities, our border, and our country.
“They have had two years-2 years -to come to the table and work with us on a permanent solution to combat fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and the dangers they pose to Americans.
“If we don’t act, these dangerous drugs being smuggled across our southern border would effectively become street legal. We need a permanent solution to save lives of people in despair and to protect our communities, and we need the Democrats in the House and Senate to wake up and take this seriously."
THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL AND THE DEATHS OF DESPAIR
“Nearly all states are seeing a spike in synthetic opioid deaths-with 10 western states reporting a more than 98 percent increase. The pandemic has made this worse.
“In my home state of Washington, the fentanyl positivity rate in increased by 236 percent - more than any other state in the nation. My community lost two teenagers recently from a suspected fentanyl-related death. They had their whole lives in front of them.
“Just a few milligrams of fentanyl-what can fit on Lincoln’s ear on a penny-is lethal.
“Fentanyl analogues are oftentimes more potent, and over a thousand of them have been created over the years to mimic fentanyl’s opioid effects and outsmart the law.
“With class-wide scheduling, any dangerous variant of fentanyl is controlled under Schedule I. According to the DEA, right now there are 27 new fentanyl-related substances that have been encountered and immediately controlled under the class-wide scheduling order.
“All the of those substances are many times more potent than heroin and pose serious health and safety risks. One recently encountered substance was approximately 8-times more potent than fentanyl."
THE BORDER CRISIS AND CHINA
“In addition to the ongoing, unprecedented humanitarian crisis at our border, fentanyl and other dangerous opioids are also pouring across our border at an ever increasing rate. The Border Patrol just reported a 233% increase in fentanyl seizures at the Southern Border over the last year.
“If the class-wide scheduling of fentanyl-related substances is allowed to expire, drug traffickers will be further emboldened to smuggle this poison into our communities.
“The Trump Administration also worked hard to make Chinese Communist Party accountable for the fentanyl analogues that were being manufactured in China, forcing them to crack down on it. If we let this expire and do not make it permanent, we will be sending a clear signal to the CCP that it is OK for them to ease up and let this illicit industry continue to grow."
A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES
“Moving forward we must work with the DEA and other agencies to make this scheduling permanent- like with Mr. Chabot and Mr. Latta’s Fight Fentanyl Act - while making important reforms to improve scientific research on these substances.
“I am glad the Majority is finally agreeing with us that we cannot let this expire, but they have only delayed the expiration for a few months. This extension buys us far less time than the one year extension Republican Leader Jordan and I put forward, and even the seven month extension requested by the Biden Administration.
“So, if this extension is signed into law, I call on the Democrats in Congress to immediately begin working with us on a longer term solution. Republicans stand ready to immediately begin bipartisan work to find a permanent fix that can be signed into law.
“I hope the Majority will commit to working with us over the next six months to solve this issue once and for all and not just settle for another short term extension once this expires.
“I urge a yes vote on this temporary extension."
