Palmetto State News

Washington, Apr 24 2024 - U.S. Senator Tim Scott's efforts to combat the illicit fentanyl supply chain have come to fruition as his FEND Off Fentanyl Act was signed into law as part of the national security supplemental package. Senator Scott, as the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, spearheaded the legislation aimed at disrupting the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

"The precursors for fentanyl come from China, they’re manufactured in Mexico, and then the Mexican cartels bring them to America – leading to the deaths of 70,000 Americans. My solution – the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act – freezes and sanctions the assets of the Mexican cartels, cutting off their cash, and starving them of what they need to kill 70,000 Americans," explained Senator Scott.

With the new law in place, Senator Scott expressed optimism, stating, "Today, we’ll have a greater opportunity to stop the flow of fentanyl."

Senator Scott's journey to address the fentanyl crisis began last year, utilizing his position as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to craft a comprehensive legislative solution. The FEND Off Fentanyl Act is designed to enhance current laws to more effectively disrupt illicit opioid supply chains and penalize those involved in fentanyl trafficking.

The FEND Off Fentanyl Act received unanimous support from the Senate Banking Committee in June 2023 and boasts 68 Senate cosponsors. Various national groups, including law enforcement associations and anti-opioid abuse organizations, also voiced their backing for the bill.

The United States is grappling with a severe drug crisis, with fentanyl playing a significant role in the escalating number of overdose deaths. In 2021, nearly 107,000 Americans succumbed to overdoses, with 65% of these deaths attributed to fentanyl. South Carolina witnessed a 35% increase in overdose deaths involving fentanyl from 2020 to 2021.

Senator Scott also introduced the Alan T. Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act, named after the son of Dr. Alan Shao, who tragically passed away from a fentanyl overdose. This legislation aims to address the influx of fentanyl into the country by utilizing powers akin to those under Title 42 to expedite the processing and removal of migrants illegally entering the U.S.

The signing of Senator Scott's FEND Off Fentanyl Act represents a crucial step in combating the fentanyl epidemic that has plagued communities across the nation.