WH backs GOP bill to boost penalties for Fentanyl trafficking.

White House Supports Bill to Increase Penalties for Fentanyl Trafficking

The White House has expressed support for the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT Fentanyl) Act, a bill introduced by two House Republicans that would increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking and classify it as a Schedule 1 substance. The bill has 52 Republican cosigners and is aligned with President Biden’s public safety agenda. Fentanyl is a man-made drug that can cause a coma or death even in small amounts and has contributed to the record-high drug overdose deaths in 2021. The HALT Fentanyl Act would allow law enforcement to seize the drug and hold dealers accountable. The bill is expected to be voted on in the House on Thursday.