Senator Hassan Joins in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Help NH Law Enforcement Better Detect Fentanyl and Protect Officers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and a bipartisan group of Senators in reintroducing a bipartisan bill to provide state and local law enforcement with high-tech devices to detect and identify dangerous drugs like fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid. The Providing Officers with Electronic Resources (POWER) Act establishes a new grant program through the U.S. Department of Justice to give state and local law enforcement officers access to the same high-tech screening devices that Senator Hassan helped secure for Customs and Border Protection agents through the bipartisan INTERDICT Act that was signed into law in 2018.

“Substance misuse has devastated communities across New Hampshire, and it is crucial that we stem the flow of dangerous opioids such as fentanyl,” said Senator Hassan. “In order to screen potentially deadly substances, law enforcement must be equipped with the latest and best technology. I am glad to help introduce this commonsense bill to help crack down on drug trafficking, make sure our law enforcement officers have the resources that they need, and protect our communities. I’ll continue to push to make sure we do everything that we can to end the substance use disorder crisis.”

The bipartisan POWER Act would establish a new grant program through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to help state and local law enforcement organizations secure high-tech, portable screening devices. The devices use laser technology to analyze potentially harmful substances - even through some packaging - and identify those substances based on a library of thousands of compounds that are categorized within the device.

The devices would help address the backlog of drugs awaiting laboratory identification, which will allow law enforcement to more effectively conduct drug investigations and prosecutions and crack down on drug trafficking. Without these devices, suspected drugs have to be sent to labs for testing - which can take months in some cases, delaying the justice system. And because the devices can quickly and effectively alert officers to dangerous substances in the field, they also help ensure officers can safely test and handle substances like fentanyl. Instant results also allow officers to quickly alert local health departments and others when fentanyl is found in a community so they can notify known users and help prevent accidental overdoses.  

The bipartisan POWER Act is supported by the National Sheriffs’ Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Association of Police Organizations, National HIDTA Directors Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, International Union of Police Associations, National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies, and National Tactical Officers Association.

Senator Hassan is leading bipartisan efforts to combat the substance use disorder crisis, and since 2017, the Senator has worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Last year, bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Hassan became law to help prevent opioid trafficking by further ensuring that personnel at the Department of Homeland Security can more easily detect synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Senator Hassan has also led bipartisan efforts to vastly increase access to life-saving addiction medicine by eliminating a requirement that currently blocks millions of highly trained health professionals from prescribing buprenorphine to their patients.

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