The White House has stated that fentanyl has claimed the lives of numerous children and adults, causing significant harm to families and communities. Consequently, the administration is urging Congress to pass the "Detect and Defeat" Counter Fentanyl proposal. Additionally, a National Security Memorandum will call on federal departments and agencies to intensify efforts to prevent illicit fentanyl from entering the country. These actions were announced in a July 31 fact sheet.
According to a July 31 news release, the Biden-Harris administration has already taken steps to address the fentanyl crisis. These measures include making naloxone (an overdose treatment medication) available over the counter, investing billions in drug addiction treatment, and issuing sanctions against foreign individuals involved in the illicit drug trade. Furthermore, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has intercepted more than 442 million doses of fentanyl at the border in just the last five months.
The forthcoming National Security Memorandum is expected to urge relevant federal departments and agencies to enhance efforts to curb the supply of fentanyl and synthetic opioids entering the United States. It will call for increased intelligence collection and greater coordination and cooperation across departments and agencies.
A fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security outlines that the "Detect and Defeat" Counter Fentanyl legislative proposal would empower the Department of Homeland Security to target low-value shipments typically subject to less rigorous reporting requirements. It would authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to demand more documentation on de minimis packages and issue penalties for violations. The proposal also includes creating a registry of pill presses for law enforcement tracking purposes, imposing penalties for illegitimate use, permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, which would entail harsher penalties for distribution and possession, as well as stronger penalties for those manufacturing and distributing precursor chemicals and machinery.
President Joe Biden served as a Senator from Delaware for 36 years before becoming Vice President under President Barack Obama. He assumed office as the nation's 46th President in 2021. Vice President Kamala Harris previously served as a Senator starting in 2017 after her tenure as District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California, according to profiles on the White House Administration website.
