Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
U.S. Representative Harold "Hal" Rogers, serving Kentucky's 5th District, cast his vote in favor of the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. This legislative move aims to enhance measures against drug traffickers and equip law enforcement with the necessary tools to prevent fentanyl-related substances from infiltrating American communities.
The bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act, which received support from Congressman Rogers as a cosponsor, successfully passed through the House. The legislation seeks to permanently classify chemically altered fentanyl substances as Schedule I drugs. This step is intended to address a potential loophole that could arise when the current temporary designation expires on March 31, 2025. Without this permanent classification, penalties for trafficking these altered substances are less severe than those for traditional fentanyl.
Congressman Rogers highlighted the impact of fentanyl in Kentucky: "In Kentucky, we've seen the painful result of deadly fentanyl poisoning in our communities. In fact, nearly 80% of all overdose deaths in the Commonwealth were a result of fentanyl poisoning in 2023." He further expressed hope that with Republican leadership now in the Senate, there would be progress on passing this critical legislation before the temporary designation lapses.
Accidental poisonings involving fentanyl are currently identified as the leading cause of death among adults aged 18 to 49, surpassing cancer, heart disease, and car accidents. Fentanyl-related substances have been reported to be significantly more potent than morphine—up to 100 times—with lethal doses measured in milligrams.
The Drug Enforcement Administration initially placed fentanyl-related substances under a temporary Schedule I classification during the first Trump Administration in 2018. The HALT Fentanyl Act proposes making both this classification and associated penalties permanent as it progresses to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
For additional information regarding Congressman Rogers' initiatives both nationally and within Kentucky, interested individuals can visit his official website or follow him on social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
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