Legislation to designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction was introduced in Congress.
Florida Congressman Neal Dunn and Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter introduced H. Res. 959, a resolution supporting President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
Fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, claims tens of thousands of lives in the United States each year, and continues to pose a severe public health crisis.
“I am thankful to President Trump for his decisive action and recognizing what I’ve been saying for years,” Florida Rep. Neal Dunn said. “As the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, it is time we call this drug what it is: a Weapon of Mass Destruction. That is why I am again introducing legislation to designate illicit fentanyl-related substances as such. This designation will provide law enforcement with the tools and authority needed to protect our communities from this deadly poison.”
Republican Congressman Dunn previously introduced similar legislation during the 118th Congress.
“Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for young Americans, killing more of our citizens than any weapon. I applaud President Trump for protecting the homeland by declaring fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, which will enable law enforcement to appropriately tackle this crisis. As a pharmacist who has supported this push for years, it is time we unleash every available tool against the cartels and foreign networks to keep this extremely lethal and dangerous drug off our streets,” said Rep. Buddy Carter.
In his executive order, President Trump said the manufacture and distribution of fentanyl threatens national security and fuels lawlessness in our hemisphere and at our borders.
“As President of the United States, my highest duty is the defense of the country and its citizens. Accordingly, I hereby designate illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD),” the presidential executive order states.
