Washington — Today, the American Trucking Associations hailed the unanimous passage of the END FENTANYL Act, which would strengthen Customs and Border Protection’s efforts to stem the tidal wave of illicit, deadly fentanyl pouring over the southern border and support CBP officers who are on the front lines.
ATA championed the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life—END FENTANYL—Act, which was sponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Representatives Michael Guest (R-Mississippi) and David Trone (D-Maryland). The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
“The trucking industry reaches every corner of the country, and we have seen firsthand the staggering toll the fentanyl crisis has had on individuals and families nationwide. To combat this devastating scourge, our industry has worked to raise public awareness, supported addiction and recovery programs, and partnered with law enforcement,” said ATA Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer Ed Gilroy. “The END FENTANYL Act would complement these efforts by ensuring CBP officers have the proper guidance to perform inspections and effectively intercept fentanyl before it reaches our communities. ATA commends Senator Scott and Congressman Guest’s leadership and appreciates Congress' swift passage of this legislation, which will help to remove this deadly drug from our country and save countless lives.”
Specifically, the END FENTANYL Act:
- Requires the Commissioner of CBP to review and update the Office of Field Operations’ policies and handbooks, as necessary and at least once every three years in order to respond to illegal activity, such as the trafficking of drugs and humans, along the border.
- Requires the Commissioner of CBP to submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that summarizes the policy and manual changes every three years.