Suffolk Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On May 25, 2023, Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement after voting YES to pass H.R. 467, the bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act.

“Too many families have been harmed by the fentanyl public health crisis. Since being sworn in I have made a point to call on Congress to act on this important issue in a bipartisan manner, and I am thrilled to see the HALT Fentanyl Act pass today,” said LaLota. “This bipartisan bill will deliver real results and improve the lives of families across Suffolk County. I urge the Senate to act swiftly to pass this important bill and get it to President Biden.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

Background:

On May 22nd, 2023, the White House released a Statement of Administration Policy in SUPPORT of the HALT Fentanyl Act.

The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently schedule all fentanyl-related substances (FRS) not otherwise scheduled into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act as a class and expedite research into fentanyl-related substances.

Currently, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues temporarily fall under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) due to a temporary scheduling order that runs through Dec. 31st, 2024. Due to the increase in overdose deaths related to fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, this bill will address the permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogues in the Schedule I category, as well as grant researchers the ability to conduct studies on these substances.

The HALT Fentanyl Act closely tracks recommendations to Congress submitted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in September 2021. It would permanently place fentanyl analogues into Schedule I of the CSA, simplify registration processes for certain research with Schedule I substances, remove barriers that currently impede such work, and provide for an exemption of individual analogues from Schedule I when evidence demonstrates it is appropriate.

Original source can be found here.