Washington (February 17, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) on a Congressional delegation to Mexico City, Mexico and the U.S-Mexico border. The senators will meet with Mexican government officials to discuss immigration, economic development and climate change. The senators will also meet with Customs and Border Protection and Drug Enforcement Administration officials to discuss efforts drug trafficking interdiction activities, especially in response the increase in fentanyl entering the United States from Mexico.
 
“I look forward to meeting with Mexico’s top leaders to celebrate the long and rich history between our two countries,” said Senator Markey. “The people of Mexico and the families that have immigrated to the United States are integral members of our communities and make up the fabric of our nation. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our close relationship with Mexico and honoring social, cultural and economic ties that are an integral part of America’s way of life.
 
“Massachusetts ranks second in the nation per capita in synthetic opioid overdose deaths, which includes fentanyl,” added Senator Markey. “We must educate the public about the existence of illicit fentanyl and the harm it can do, and we need to make sure that Mexico is living up to its commitments to combat the flow of this deadly drug and other synthetic opioids into the United States. It is critical that we develop a national strategy that includes collaboration with our international partners like Mexico to help stop fentanyl’s deadly impact.”
 
Senators Markey and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). members of the Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a Senate resolution calling for international cooperation to address the trafficking of illicit fentanyl into the United States. In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a nationwide alert on illicit fentanyl as a threat to public health and safety.

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