[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 12, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1681-S1682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           HALT Fentanyl Act

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, yesterday, I came to the floor to discuss 
the terrible human cost of fentanyl: the lives lost, the families 
changed, the futures destroyed. In 2022, we lost 295 people a day to 
drug overdoses, the vast majority of them opioids and, specifically, 
fentanyl. Twenty-two teenagers died each week that same year from drug 
overdoses. That is like losing an entire high school classroom every 
week.

[[Page S1682]]

  The majority of drug overdoses in this country are from fentanyl, and 
a lot of illegal fentanyl comes across our southern border in the form 
of fentanyl analogs, which are versions of fentanyl created with slight 
chemical variations in an attempt to dodge law enforcement. So getting 
this crisis under control requires targeting that flow of drugs.
  That starts, of course, with securing our southern border so the 
cartels can't hide behind a flood of illegal immigration and so that 
the Border Patrol is free to focus on cross-border crime.
  In just a few short weeks, President Trump has made major progress on 
this front, dramatically slowing illegal crossings and taking 
significant steps to halt the flow of fentanyl across our borders.
  Now it is Congress's turn. The bill before us today, the HALT 
Fentanyl Act, would permanently classify fentanyl analogs--the fentanyl 
that cartels are making--as schedule I substances. In other words, 
fentanyl analogs would be permanently listed as the deadliest type of 
drug, and that would ensure that law enforcement agencies have the 
greatest flexibility to combat the scourge of fentanyl and hold 
accountable those who trade in destroying lives.
  During his first term, President Trump temporarily classified 
fentanyl analogs as schedule I substances. And because it is so 
important, Congress has extended that classification several times. 
Now, it is time to make it permanent.
  I was very pleased that we had a robust bipartisan vote, last week, 
on moving to this bill, and I hope that same bipartisanship is 
reflected in the final vote. There could hardly be a more commonsense 
piece of legislation, and every Member of this body should be able to 
agree that fentanyl analogs, which have been responsible for so many 
overdose deaths, should be classified as schedule I drugs.
  The fentanyl crisis affects every corner of society and every State 
in the Union, and my State of South Dakota is no exception. Last year, 
in Sioux Falls, police seized enough fentanyl to kill 2.5 million 
people--2.5 million--and that was in just one South Dakota city.
  I am grateful to Senators Cassidy, Grassley, and Heinrich for 
introducing this legislation and to other Senators, like Senator 
Johnson and Senator Graham, whose work has drawn attention to the 
fentanyl crisis. I hope that, in the next few days, Senators of both 
parties will unite to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act and ensure that law 
enforcement has critical tools to combat this crisis, protect our 
cities, and protect our children.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.