Overview

• The House approved the HALT Fentanyl Act by a 321-104 margin on June 12, sending it to President Trump’s desk for signature.
• The legislation makes a 2018 emergency rule permanent by listing fentanyl analogs as Schedule I drugs under federal law.
• It grants law enforcement clearer authority to pursue synthetic opioid traffickers while preserving limited research allowances for medical studies on fentanyl analogs.
• Senators Bill Cassidy and Martin Heinrich spearheaded the bipartisan effort, citing CDC data that fentanyl-related substances are the leading cause of death among adults aged 18 to 45.
• Critics warn the measure could impede future scientific research and fails to tackle the underlying public health drivers of the opioid crisis.