releases: https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-applauds-senate-passage-of-anti-fentanyl-legislation
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-applauds-senate-passage-of-anti-fentanyl-legislation | Capito Applauds Senate Passage of Anti-Fentanyl Legislation | 2017-12-22 | 2017 | 2017-12 | Republican | House | WV | Shelley Capito | C001047 | www.capito.senate.gov | legacy | 12.22.17 Capito Applauds Senate Passage of Anti-Fentanyl Legislation Bipartisan bill she introduced now heads to presidents desk WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)along with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)today hailed Senate passage of the INTERDICT Act, their bipartisan legislation that would help stop the flow of the illicit opioid fentanyl across the U.S. border. The bill will help equip U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with scanning devices and other technologies to detect synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Just this week, we learned that West Virginia continues to lead the country in overdose deaths, but we are not the only state that is being forced to deal with the tragic consequences of the growing opioid epidemic. Given the scope and the impact of this national crisis, its going to take a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck approach to fight it, and enforcement is a big part of that strategy, Senator Capito said. I was proud to introduce the INTERDICT Act with Senator Markey and will continue working to make sure our law enforcement professionals have the tools and resources they need to keep illicit substances out of our country and off of our streets. In data released this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 42,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose in 2016, with nearly half being directly attributed to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Mexico is the primary source for illicit fentanyl trafficked into the United States, while distributors in China are the principal source of the precursor chemicals used to manufacture the drug, as well as a source for finished-product illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, which are often shipped to the United States through the mail and express consignment carriers. Specifically, the INTERDICT Act: Ensures that CBP will have additional portable chemical screening devices available at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories. Provides CBP with sufficient resources, personnel and facilitiesincluding scientists available during all operational hoursto interpret screening test results from the field. Authorizesbased on CBP guidancethe appropriation of $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities and personnel for support during all operational hours Companion legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 412-3 in October. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |