Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
House Republicans are bringing the HALT Fentanyl Act to the floor this week, marking the first legislative step to crack down on the trafficking of the synthetic opioid this session.
Why it matters: The legislation would permanently give fentanyl-related substances Schedule I classification under the Controlled Substances Act after lawmakers extended a temporary scheduling order from the first Trump administration multiple times.
What they're saying: "It empowers law enforcement to seize those deadly drugs and go after their producers and distributors and stop the flow," Speaker Mike Johnson said at his Wednesday press conference.
- "It's an unspeakable tragedy that has now gone on for over four years. We have more than 200 Americans lose their lives every single day on average to fentanyl," Johnson said.
The Senate Judiciary Committee also held a hearing Tuesday focused on fentanyl class scheduling, and House Energy and Commerce is holding its first health hearing of the 119th Congress on Thursday, on combating illicit drugs.
Flashback: The HALT Fentanyl Act passed the House in May 2023 with bipartisan support, 289–133.
- 74 Democrats voted for the bill, and one Republican, Thomas Massie, voted against it.
- President Biden supported the bill, but it stalled in the Democrat-held Senate during the 118th Congress.
Catch up quick: The legislation would permanently change the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances from Schedule II to Schedule I, joining substances like heroin and LSD.
- That means there could be increased law enforcement activity and lead to mandatory minimum sentences without parole for those who distribute the drugs.
- Some congressional Democrats who previously opposed the bill said it could increase the number of people in prison without a proven public health strategy to reduce fentanyl overdose deaths.
What we're watching: Whether the bill can get Democratic support in this Congress amid disagreements between the two parties around Trump's recent policy actions on government spending and dissolving federal agencies.
