Congressman Nick LaLota of Suffolk County, New York, announced his support for the recently passed S. 331, the bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. This legislation aims to make fentanyl-related substances permanently classified as Schedule I drugs and equip law enforcement with enhanced tools to combat trafficking.
“Fentanyl is killing Americans at an alarming rate, and too many Long Island families have felt the devastating impact firsthand. That’s why I proudly voted for S. 331, the Senate’s bipartisan version of the HALT Fentanyl Act—because we need strong, unified action to combat this crisis,” stated Rep. LaLota. “With over 48,000 fentanyl-related deaths last year, this bill gives law enforcement the tools they need to prosecute traffickers, disrupt supply chains, and impose harsher penalties on those spreading this poison. I’ll continue supporting serious, bipartisan efforts to protect Suffolk County families and save lives.”
The HALT Fentanyl Act classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification enables law enforcement to treat all fentanyl analogues with equal severity as fentanyl itself. The act prevents traffickers from avoiding prosecution by altering chemical formulas and applies existing trafficking penalties to these substances.
To foster scientific research, the legislation simplifies registration requirements for studying Schedule I substances like fentanyl-related substances (FRS). Researchers can now study multiple substances under a single license, facilitating better understanding and response by public health and law enforcement agencies.
Congressman LaLota had previously supported similar legislation in May 2023 and sponsored the bipartisan Detect Fentanyl and Xylazine Act signed into law in December 2024. This act enhances detection of these drugs in supply chains to bolster interdiction and public health initiatives.
