U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) "wants more dead Americans" through its support of fentanyl production, which is making its way into the U.S. This assertion was made during a Congressional hearing on April 16th.
"Through its actions, the Chinese Communist Party is telling us that it wants more fentanyl entering our country," said Gallagher, who is the chair of the House Select Committee on the CCP. "It wants the societal chaos and devastation that has resulted from this epidemic. And yes, it wants more dead Americans."
According to a report by the House Select Committee on the CCP, The People's Republic of China (PRC), under the leadership of the CCP, is being held accountable for the fentanyl epidemic in America. This crisis claims approximately 200 American lives daily. The report was released alongside a hearing titled: "The CCP's Role in the Fentanyl Crisis." The Committee's investigation into China's role in this crisis found that the CCP "subsidizes the manufacturing and export of illicit fentanyl materials" using "tax rebates." Precursor chemicals for fentanyl and other narcotics are produced in China before being shipped to Mexico for conversion into pill form. These precursors are openly sold on China's "extensively monitored and controlled" internet, as per the report. The report noted how the CCP strategically and economically benefits from this crisis.
Former Attorney General William Barr has spoken out about this issue, stating that both PRC and CCP are aware of their roles. He labelled them as "prime movers," who are "knee deep in actively sponsoring, encouraging, and facilitating the production and export of fentanyl and fentanyl precursors for distribution in the United States." Barr provided this testimony at a Committee hearing on April 16th, according to a press release from Select Committee on the CCP.
As reported by NPR, there were over 112,000 overdose deaths in 2023 alone. Fentanyl is often mixed with other recreational drugs while Mexican cartels produce pills that may resemble ADHD medication or pain relief drugs. Overdoses due to fentanyl have become the leading cause of death among individuals aged 18-45.
According to his biography on his official website, Gallagher represents Wisconsin's 8th District, having been elected in 2017. In addition to his role as chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, Gallagher also chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation and is a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
