Chairwoman Foxx Opening Remarks on H.R. 27

As prepared for delivery:

Good afternoon. The Committee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. 
 
Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider H.R. 27, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, or HALT Fentanyl Act.
 
Illicit fentanyl and its analogues are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans every single year. 
 
Fentanyl destroys families, upends communities, and poses a serious threat to the health and safety of millions of Americans.
 
For context, in 2022, the DEA seized over 379 million doses of fentanyl – that’s enough to kill every single American.
 
And with the open border policies of the previous administration – that are now thankfully being reversed by President Trump – the stream of fentanyl into the United States over the last four years went unimpeded.
 
Something must be done to change this trajectory, and H.R. 27 offers a solution.
 
This legislation would:
 

• Permanently place fentanyl analogues into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
• Simplify registration processes for certain research with Schedule I substances.
• Provide for exemption of individual analogues from Schedule I when evidence demonstrates it is appropriate.

 
Last Congress, the HALT Fentanyl Act received sizable bipartisan support with 74 Democrats voting “Yes” alongside Republicans.
 
I would hope this time around that more of our colleagues across the aisle would join us.
 
Everyone in this room has certainly read stories or seen news coverage of how illicit fentanyl has wreaked havoc upon our country.
 
One life lost to fentanyl is too many. One life ensnared by an addiction to fentanyl is too many.
 
All of us can agree on that.
 
Again, this bipartisan legislation offers us the opportunity to make significant headway in addressing a serious issue that continues to affect our nation.
 
I look forward to the discussion on this legislation, and I now yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make.

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