Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative John James (MI-10) voted in favor of the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act, which passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The HALT Fentanyl Act takes action to combat the influx of illicit fentanyl, which has devastated communities across the nation, especially in Michigan. This legislation had previously passed the House in 2023 with Rep. James support.

Specifically, the HALT Fentanyl Act:

·      Classifies fentanyl as a Schedule I substance

·      Increases penalties for selling or distributing fentanyl, including mandatory minimum sentences 

·      Bolsters and streamlines research into fentanyl and Schedule I substances

In 2022, Michigan lost 2,997 lives to drug overdoses, primarily due to fentanyl. This surpasses the total number of U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan over 20 years (2,352). Nationally, the U.S. saw over 107,941 overdose deaths in 2022, equating to 45 times more deaths in a single year alone than all U.S. losses in Afghanistan over 20 years, underscoring the devastating severity of the fentanyl crisis.

Rep. James issued the following statement after voting in favor of the bill:

“Fentanyl is a scourge on our nation, leaving a trail of heartbreak and destruction in its wake. Just last year, officers in Clinton Township and Southeast Michigan seized over 41 kilos of fentanyl—enough to kill every man, woman, and child in Michigan. We cannot allow this poison to continue tearing apart families. I’m proud that House Republicans are once again leading the fight to protect our communities, and eliminate fentanyl from our streets.”

Congressman James has been a leading voice in the fight against the fentanyl and opioid epidemic. Last Congress, Rep. James introduced the Fentanyl Reduction Engrained by Economic Deterrence (FREED) Act, which would crack down on foreign entities involved in fentanyl trafficking, and the Road to Recovery Act, which reauthorizes lifesaving resources vital to addressing drug addiction and substance abuse. The Road to Recovery Act passed the House of Representatives. 

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