Palmetto State News

U.S. Senator Tim Scott has reintroduced the Alan Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act. This legislation aims to tackle the fentanyl crisis, which he attributes to the expiration of Title 42 during President Biden's administration. The act proposes allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expedite processing and removal of migrants entering the country illegally in response to this public health emergency.

Senator Scott stated, “The former president left a disaster on our southern border that infected communities and families across our nation. A couple of years ago, my friend Alan Shao lost his son to the crisis curated by the Biden administration’s open border policies. This legislation is named in honor of his son to remind us that one life lost is one too many and that we can’t continue to sit idly by allowing devastation to rip through our homes.”

Senator Ted Cruz added, “The fentanyl crisis is a national emergency. It was driven by the Biden administration’s open-border policies and will require decisive, sustained, and specific action to stem. This bill will protect American lives and secure our border."

Senator Ted Budd also expressed support for the bill: “Sheriffs across North Carolina have told me that every one of our counties is a border county after four years of the Biden administration. To reverse this dangerous situation, I am proud to join Senator Tim Scott’s bill."

In addition to Senators Cruz and Budd, Bernie Moreno from Ohio co-sponsors this legislation.

The act is named after Alan T. Shao II, who died at 27 from a fentanyl overdose. His father was Dr. Alan Shao, former Dean at the College of Charleston's School of Business.

According to DEA data from 2024, over 367 million doses were seized as more than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023—most due to fentanyl.

Beyond this legislation, Senator Scott introduced other measures like the Securing Our Border Act and STOP MADNESS Act aimed at enhancing border security and imposing sanctions on non-cooperative foreign governments.

Last year saw another initiative by Senator Scott with his FEND Off Fentanyl Act becoming law; it directs Treasury actions against Chinese precursor manufacturers' profits aiding Mexican cartels trafficking fentanyl into America.