Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that illicit fentanyl-related substances are a weapon of mass destruction and should be classified as such, and recognizing President Trump’s efforts to mitigate illicit narcotics from entering the United States through such actions as signing an Executive Order “Designating Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction” and declaring the crisis caused by the rise of fentanyl a national health emergency.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that illicit fentanyl-related substances are a weapon of mass destruction and should be classified as such, and recognizing President Trump’s efforts to mitigate illicit narcotics from entering the United States through such actions as signing an Executive Order “Designating Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction” and declaring the crisis caused by the rise of fentanyl a national health emergency.

Whereas the term “fentanyl-related substance” is defined in section 1308.11(h)(30)(i) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, as any substance not otherwise listed under another Administration Controlled Substance Code Number, and for which no exemption or approval is in effect under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355), that is structurally related to fentanyl by one or more of the following modifications, including—

(1) replacement of the phenyl portion of the phenethyl group by any monocycle, whether or not further substituted in or on the monocycle;

(2) substitution in or on the phenethyl group with alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyl, hydroxyl, halo, haloalkyl, amino, or nitro groups;

(3) substitution in or on the piperidine ring with alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyl, ester, ether, hydroxyl, halo, haloalkyl, amino, or nitro groups;

(4) replacement of the aniline ring with any aromatic monocycle whether or not further substituted in or on the aromatic monocycle; or

(5) replacement of the N–propionyl group by another acyl group;

Whereas China remains the primary source of illicit fentanyl precursors and illicit fentanyl-related substances trafficked through international mail and into the United States;

Whereas transnational criminal organizations in Mexico are rapidly increasing the flow of illicit fentanyl-related substances into the United States over the porous Southern United States border;

Whereas India has emerged as a growing supplier of precursor chemicals and illicit fentanyl-related substances;

Whereas, in July 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate assessed that “fentanyl is very likely a viable option for a chemical weapons attack by extremists or criminals”;

Whereas illicit fentanyl and illicit fentanyl-related substances trafficking operations are growing in sophistication according to the Drug Enforcement Administration;

Whereas a single kilogram of illicit fentanyl or an illicit fentanyl-related substance can kill 500,000 individuals;

Whereas an estimated 71,238 citizens of the United States have lost their lives from a synthetic opioid overdose in 2021 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

Whereas illicit fentanyl is the leading driver of the United States ongoing opioid crisis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

Whereas Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has sent a letter to President Biden urging him to classify illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that—

(1) the President should classify synthetic illicit fentanyl-related substances as a weapon of mass destruction; and

(2) illicit fentanyl, and illicit fentanyl-related substances, should be permanently placed in schedule I, as defined by section 813 of title 21, United States Code.