[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 704 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 704

Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 
   2026, including increasing individual and public awareness of the 
  impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young 
                                people.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 29, 2026

  Mr. Grassley (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 
   2026, including increasing individual and public awareness of the 
  impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young 
                                people.

Whereas drug traffickers are mass-producing fake or counterfeit pills and 
        falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills to deceive the 
        people of the United States;
Whereas many fake or counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription name-
        brand opioids, stimulants, or anxiety medications;
Whereas drug traffickers are using fake or counterfeit pills to exploit 
        prescription drug misuse and the opioid crisis;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (referred to in this preamble as the 
        ``DEA'') has observed a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills 
        containing not less than 2 milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a 
        deadly dose;
Whereas 5 out of every 10 pills with fentanyl tested by the DEA contain a 
        potentially lethal dose;
Whereas counterfeit pills may also contain fentanyl-related substances and 
        methamphetamine;
Whereas the number of counterfeit pills with fentanyl seized by law enforcement 
        agencies in 2025 was more than 47,000,000;
Whereas, including the nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder seized in 2025, 
        total fentanyl seizures are equivalent to more than 369,000,000 lethal 
        doses of fentanyl;
Whereas fake or counterfeit pills have been identified in all 50 States and the 
        District of Columbia;
Whereas illicit fentanyl has also been detected in illicit drugs such as heroin, 
        cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy and molly), and methamphetamine;
Whereas, for the 12-month period ending in October 2025, nearly 70,000 
        individuals in the United States died of drug-induced deaths, and more 
        than 37,000 of those deaths involved illicit fentanyl and other 
        synthetic opioids;
Whereas, in 2023, illicit fentanyl was involved in more deaths of individuals 55 
        years of age and under than any single other cause;
Whereas fake counterfeit pills are easily accessible and often sold on social 
        media and e-commerce platforms, making them accessible to teens and 
        youth;
Whereas illicit fentanyl is involved in more deaths of youths than all other 
        drug types combined;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, drug overdose and poisoning deaths for 
        individuals 14 to 18 years of age increased by 128 percent, a rate of 
        increase which was 77 percentage points higher than the national rate 
        and higher than the rate for any other 5-year age group;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, the number of deaths involving illicit fentanyl 
        in drug overdose and poisoning deaths for individuals 14 to 18 years of 
        age increased by 236 percent, a rate of increase which was 141 
        percentage points higher than the national rate and higher than the rate 
        for any other 5-year age group over the age of 15;
Whereas, in 2024, only 65 percent of youth and 55 percent of teens in the United 
        States were aware that fentanyl is being used to create counterfeit 
        pills;
Whereas, in 2024, only 55 percent of young adults and 50 percent of teens 
        considered themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl; and
Whereas, in 2025, there were tens of thousands of reported overdose deaths 
        involving illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the recognition and goals of National Fentanyl 
        Awareness Day, which include increasing individual and public 
        awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills 
        on families and young people;
            (2) applauds the work of Federal, State, and local law 
        enforcement agencies that work to combat the proliferation of 
        counterfeit pills;
            (3) encourages the use of existing authorities to 
        proactively stop and prevent the spread of illicit counterfeit 
        pills; and
            (4) designates April 29, 2026, as ``National Fentanyl 
        Awareness Day''.
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