Washington. D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor today in support of H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act, in order to save lives and make communities safer.

LIVES ARE ON THE LINE

“Madam Speaker, to save lives and make our communities safer, I rise in support of the HALT Fentanyl Act.

“Illicit Fentanyl is one of the greatest threats we face as a nation.

“Illicit drug manufacturers are diverting precursor chemicals from some of China’s 160,000 chemical plants and shipping them to Mexico, where cartels are producing mass quantities of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances.

“These are being smuggled across our southern border and killing more people than ever.

“According to an analysis by the Washington Post, fentanyl poisoning is the number one cause of death for people 18-49.

“I think about my friend, Molly Cain, from Spokane. She lost her son Carson. And, Deb and Ray Cullen from Pennsylvania who lost their son Zach.

“Both Carson and Zach were killed instantly by substances laced with illicit fentanyl.

“Molly asked me how many more letters from grieving parents is it going to take for action.

“The fact is it shouldn’t take another letter, another day.

“It shouldn’t take another lost loved one.

“The HALT Fentanyl Act will save lives.

“We must make sure that law enforcement has the permanent tools they need to seize these extremely lethal poisons.

“It is the DEA’s number one legislative priority.

“Without those tools, drug traffickers—being sourced from China—will be emboldened to push deadlier and deadlier drugs across the border.

“We can’t let that happen.

“Let’s come together today for a more secure future for every community in America.

“I urge support of the HALT Fentanyl Act.”