Panhandle Times

Congressman Nathaniel Moran of Texas has expressed support for the HALT Fentanyl Act, which aims to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States. The legislation, introduced by Congressmen Morgan Griffith of Virginia and Bob Latta of Ohio, seeks to make permanent the temporary class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances.

Moran emphasized the importance of this legislative measure, stating, "By passing this legislation, House Republicans are ensuring that law enforcement has the tools needed to keep lethal drugs off our streets and protect Americans." He highlighted the severity of the fentanyl epidemic, noting that "our nation is facing a devastating fentanyl epidemic, with hundreds of thousands of Americans dying each year due to illicit distribution networks."

The HALT Fentanyl Act targets a loophole in federal law that currently allows for slight chemical modifications to fentanyl, creating new variations that could evade legal restrictions. According to Moran, "We cannot allow drug traffickers to evade prosecution by making slight chemical changes to fentanyl to create new, deadly variations."

Under this act, fentanyl analogues would be permanently classified as Schedule I drugs. This classification indicates substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use under the Controlled Substances Act. Currently operating on a temporary basis, this designation is set to expire at the end of next month. Failure to make it permanent could potentially enable these substances onto the streets and limit law enforcement's capacity to respond effectively.