Illicit fentanyl and its analogues are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans every single year – it is a tragedy. One life lost to fentanyl is too many. One life that has been ensnared by addiction to fentanyl is too many. Something should be done to change this trajectory. This week, House Republicans passed a piece of legislation, the bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, or HALT Fentanyl Act, that serves as a real, commonsense solution to this scourge.

In 2022, under the Biden administration, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seized over 379 million doses of fentanyl that had entered the United States. Yes, 379 million doses. That’s enough to kill every single American. With the open border policies of the previous administration – that are now thankfully being reversed by President Trump – the stream of fentanyl into our nation over the last four years went unimpeded. From headlines in newspapers to the news we watch every day, we know that fentanyl destroys families, upends communities, and poses a serious threat to the health and safety of millions of Americans.

The HALT Fentanyl Act:

• Permanently places fentanyl analogues into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act – a substance classification that’s subject to the strictest of controls.
• Closes a loophole for chemically related fentanyl substances and lists them as Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

I was pleased to vote in favor of the HALT Fentanyl Act when it came to the House floor for a full vote. The passage of this bipartisan legislation is yet another example of House Republicans acting upon the mandate that the American people gave us in November. We can agree that getting the scourge of fentanyl off America’s streets – and out of communities – remains one of many top priorities. Step by step, we’re making good progress in our promise to restore our nation.

Combatting Antisemitism

On Monday, the Department of Education announced that it is actively investigating five separate universities that have been engulfed by antisemitic activity. These universities include:

• Columbia University
• Northwestern University
• Portland State University
• The University of California, Berkeley
• The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

I am extremely pleased to see these efforts by the Trump administration – which build upon the progress we achieved on the Education and Workforce Committee last Congress – to eradicate antisemitism and protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff across the nation. It is truly unfortunate that the Biden administration did not take action against the horrific activities that occurred under its watch.

A Win for Women and Girls

On Wednesday, President Trump signed a significant Executive Order that bars men from competing in women’s sports – and further protects Title IX from being decimated entirely. I have fought tirelessly on this issue – the Biden administration’s failed policies posed a serious threat to educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls across our nation. With President Trump’s leadership, the original intent of Title IX has been honored, and the fair playing field for women and girls remains protected. This is cause for celebration.

Quote of The Week

“Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems.”

-Brian Tracy

 Have a blessed weekend,