U.S. Representatives Josh Riley (D-NY) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) have introduced the Stop Fentanyl Smuggling Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at curbing fentanyl trafficking at U.S. borders and in correctional facilities.
The legislation would require the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories to develop technology that can detect fentanyl vapor and airborne particles. These tools would help law enforcement intercept fentanyl more quickly and reduce its flow into secure areas.
A direct response to community concerns
Riley said he introduced the bill after hearing firsthand accounts from corrections officers and families. Many corrections officers reported being exposed to fentanyl smuggled into prisons, while families across Upstate New York shared stories of tragic overdoses.
“This bill gives border agents and law enforcement access to state-of-the-art tools to stop fentanyl smuggling and keep communities safe,” Riley said. “We have the technology. Now we need to apply it to save lives.”
In fact, Riley questioned expert witnesses in a recent Science & Technology Committee hearing about using research funds to stop fentanyl trafficking. That hearing directly informed the development of this bill.
Fentanyl’s growing impact in Iowa
Nunn emphasized the urgency of the issue, noting that fentanyl and other synthetic opioids accounted for 43% of drug overdoses in Iowa in 2022. According to him, this crisis is tearing families apart across the state.
“On National Fentanyl Awareness Day, I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill alongside Rep. Riley,” Nunn said. “By giving law enforcement better tools, we can save lives and better protect our communities.”
Riley’s broader efforts to fight fentanyl
Riley has taken multiple steps to address the fentanyl epidemic. Notably, he voted for the HALT Fentanyl Act (H.R. 27), which increases criminal penalties for fentanyl-related substances. He also sponsored the Marc Fischer Memorial Interdiction of Fentanyl in Postal Mail at Federal Prisons Act (H.R. 1046) to improve mail screening in federal prisons.
Additionally, Riley is a member of the Congressional Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus, which promotes legislation focused on prevention, recovery, and enforcement.
What happens next?
The bill has been referred to both the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. If passed, it would lead to new technology that strengthens U.S. efforts to detect and stop fentanyl at key entry points.
As the legislative process unfolds, supporters argue that investing in detection tools is a critical next step in fighting a crisis that continues to claim thousands of American lives each year.
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