Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), alongside Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Congressman Ted Budd (NC-13), will introduce the bipartisan Save Americans from the Fentanyl Emergency Act of 2022, or SAFE Act of 2022, to permanently schedule all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs to ensure law enforcement can keep them off the streets.
Fentanyl-related substances are currently temporarily scheduled as Schedule I thanks to bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Pappas in April 2021, the Extending Temporary Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act, which extended the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) temporary order to keep fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This legislation was signed into law by President Biden on May 4, 2021, and was repeatedly extended through the passage of continuing resolutions to fund the government at Congressman's Pappas's urging. The temporary scheduling of these substances will expire on March 11 without any further action by Congress.
"From my conversations with law enforcement, public health experts, and advocates across New Hampshire, it's clear that we must do more to confront the opioid crisis, stop the trafficking of fentanyl and its analogues, and support our neighbors suffering from substance use disorder," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "Permanently scheduling deadly fentanyl analogues is an essential step that will ensure law enforcement retains the tools they need to keep our communities safe and hold traffickers accountable for the harm they have caused. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this legislation to help get these deadly substances out of our communities, and I thank Representatives Newhouse and Budd for partnering with me on this important legislation."
Pappas recently joined a briefing with the leadership of the New England High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) to get an update on the current threats posed to Granite Staters by illegal drug trafficking, discuss the work being done by HIDTA to address these threats, and discuss efforts that he has supported in Congress to address the flow of illegal drugs, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its analogs.
Specifically the Save Americans from the Fentanyl Emergency Act of 2022 will:
Amend Section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act to permanently classify any fentanyl-related substance as a Schedule I drug unless it is already listed in another schedule or specifically exempted.
Define the types of compounds and molecular variations that count as an analogue of fentanyl.
Require the Attorney General to publish a list of substances that meet the classification of a fentanyl-related substance in the Federal Register within 60 days of determination.
Allow the Secretary of HHS to contract with private entities to conduct research and evaluations into fentanyl-related substances, and create a streamlined process to facilitate research of controlled substances in Schedule I to more closely align it with the process for Schedule II research, to expand our understanding of fentanyl-related substances and other drugs.
Require the GAO to issue a report within four years after enactment analyzing the effect of permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogues. The report would analyze impact on research, removal or rescheduling of analogues, manufacturing/trafficking, criminal charges, and overall efficacy on reducing proliferation of fentanyl-related substances.
Congressman Pappas has been a leader in confronting the opioid crisis during his time in Congress, taking the following actions to combat trafficking of deadly substances and expand treatment opportunities for individuals struggling with substance misuse disorder:
On January 12, 2022, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16) led 36 of their colleagues in a bipartisan call for Congressional leadership to prioritize further Congressional action to stop fentanyl trafficking, permanently classify fentanyl analogues as a Schedule I substance, giving law enforcement and public health experts the tools they need to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Pappas is an original cosponsor of H.R. 6311, the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act, which would provide $125 billion over ten years to expand access to treatment and recovery support services for people with substance use disorders.
Pappas is a cosponsor of H.R. 5382, the POWER Act, which would provide grants for law enforcement to purchase chemical screening devices to detect substances like illegal fentanyl.
On December 8, 2021, legislation Pappas introduced alongside Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03), the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, passed the House. The legislation will require the CDC, OSHA and other federal agencies to direct public awareness campaigns and training for first responders about the dangers of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
On June 30, 2021, Congressman Pappas, alongside the New Hampshire delegation, announced CARA Local Drug Crisis Grants to help stem the substance use disorder epidemic in New Hampshire. The recipients include the Dover Coalition for Youth and the Raymond Coalition for Youth, each of which will receive $250,000 over five years.
On June 28, 2021, Congressman Pappas and Congressman Vern Buchanan sent a letter to House leadership demanding action on permanent scheduling of fentanyl-related substances by passing the FIGHT Fentanyl Act.
Pappas is a cosponsor of H.R. 3259, the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act, or the NOPAIN Act, which would establish separate payments for certain non-opioid treatments in outpatient surgical settings, so as to support pain management treatments that would replace or reduce opioid consumption.
On May 18, 2021, Pappas introduced the bipartisan Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act alongside Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16) to help keep deadly synthetic drugs off the streets by placing fentanyl-related substances permanently on the Schedule I list.
On November 18, 2020, Pappas helped to pass H.R. 7990, the Fighting Emerging Narcotics Through Additional Nations to Yield Lasting Results Act, or FENTANYL Results Act, which would prioritize efforts of the Department of State to combat international trafficking via increased collaboration with the international community through shared anti-trafficking initiatives and capacity-building measures.
On July 17, 2020, Pappas joined the New Hampshire delegation in calling on congressional leadership to provide additional Substance Use Disorder (SUD) prevention funding for SUD services in the next COVID-19 relief package.
Pappas is a cosponsor of H.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020, which would reauthorize the State Opioid Response Grants Program, which is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), through FY2026.
Pappas is a cosponsor of H.R. 2439 and H.R. 3414, the Opioid Workforce Act of 2019; which would increase the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain management programs.
Original source can be found here.
