Rep. Fischbach praises bi-partisan HALT Fentanyl Act passed by U.S. House

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the HALT Fentanyl Act Thursday on a bi-partisan vote of 289-133.

In a news release, Rep. Michelle Fischbach said the bill would supply law enforcement with the tools needed to keep these dangerous drugs off the streets and support research efforts to understand the effects of fentanyl-related substances on people’s health.

The bill would make Fentanyl, or anything mixed with it, a permanent fixture as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Currently, Fentanyl is only a temporary member of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s most dangerous controlled substance list.

Fischbach said: “Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 – 49. It affects every income level in every demographic in every corner of the country. Even in Minnesota’s rural and relatively safe 7th District, one of the top issues I hear from police officers is about the dire need to get a handle on fentanyl overdoses.”