SIGNED INTO LAW: Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Fentanyl Trafficking

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden signed into law the bipartisan END FENTANYL Act, which U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), and their colleagues introduced to crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the border. This bill requires the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to update its policies at least once every three years to ensure that its guidance to stop and interdict drugs is up to date. This bill builds off the 2019 GAO report, “Land Ports of Entry: CBP Should Update Policies and Enhance Analysis of Inspections,” that found drug interdiction guidance has not been updated in 20 years.

“Fentanyl has devastated families in New Hampshire and across the country, and as drug traffickers develop new tactics, we must do more to stem the flow of fentanyl across the border and protect our communities,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad to see the President sign into law our commonsense bipartisan bill, which will help ensure that law enforcement is keeping its efforts to stop fentanyl from coming over our borders up-to-date.”

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security and target fentanyl trafficking. Last year she visited Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras as part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation trip where she spoke with foreign officials about economic and public safety priorities – in particular the need to crack down on fentanyl and other drug trafficking. To address the issues raised on this trip and in other briefings and hearings, she has worked to increase funding for border security. She also visited China last year as part of another bipartisan Congressional Delegation visit, where she and a bipartisan group of her colleagues pushed for further action to combat fentanyl trafficking and trafficking of the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl. As a result, China and the Biden administration announced an agreement in which China will take additional steps to stem the flow of fentanyl precursors to the United States. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided Customs and Border Protection with additional tools to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. 

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