Lawmakers are authors of INTERDICT Act, the law that provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection the latest in chemical screening devices and scientific support to detect and intercept fentanyl and other synthetic opioids at the border
Washington (March 23, 2018) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) applauded inclusion of more than $65 million in the fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill to fund opioid detection devices and equipment called for in their INTERDICT Act. The bipartisan legislation that President Donald Trump signed into law in January will help stop the flow of the illicit opioid fentanyl across the U.S. border by equipping U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with high-tech scanning devices and other technologies to detect synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
“This funding will help provide badly needed resources to those on the front lines in Massachusetts, at our borders, and at international mail facilities, who are protecting our country from the scourge of fentanyl,” said Senator Markey. “Fentanyl presents a grave threat to all Americans. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure funding that will provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection the resources it needs to interdict this deadly drug.”
“Fentanyl is exacerbating the opioid crisis and destroying American families and lives,” said Senator Rubio. “This funding will give law enforcement more tools to keep this poisonous substance away from our communities, and I’m proud that we have secured funding for this important effort.”
“The opioid addiction epidemic takes far too many lives and destroys too many families across Ohio,” said Senator Brown. “This law is about giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep fentanyl out of our country and off Ohio streets. I’m grateful to my colleagues for working across the aisle secure this important victory in the fight against the opioid crisis.”
“This omnibus includes many wins for West Virginia, including resources to tackle challenges like the opioid epidemic that is devastating so many across the country,” said Senator Capito. “I was glad to work with my colleagues to help secure funding in this bill that will enhance our enforcement efforts and ensure law enforcement professionals have the tools and resources they need to keep fentanyl and other dangerous drugs out of our country.”
Specifically, the INTERDICT Act:
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