U.S. Senator Katie Britt Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Combat the Scourge of Fentanyl

‘Americans are counting on Congress to act now and make our nation safe again’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Representative Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) in introducing the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to combat the drug abuse crisis in the United States, which is being fueled by criminal cartels who push these drugs into our communities, killing tens of thousands of Americans.

This legislation would improve federal coordination to combat this terrible crisis, go after trafficking organizations, and respond to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) central role in producing fentanyl precursors and laundering drug money.

“The flood of fentanyl into our nation is truly devastating American families and communities,” Senator Britt said. “I am deeply grateful for this effort to develop a coordinated federal task force to combat the illicit fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics trafficked by bad actors. During my time in the Senate, I have sat across from far too many grieving parents affected by our nation’s opioid epidemic. Americans are counting on Congress to act now and make our nation safe again.”  

The mission of the task force is to streamline interagency collaboration, enhance legal enforcement, and report regularly to Congress. Together, the federal government can combine forces to restructure its response to the fentanyl crisis in this country.   

“Fentanyl killed nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year and over 200 Americans each day,” Senator McCormick said. “This legislation would empower our federal government to coordinate all the tools at its disposal to combat the trafficking of lethal fentanyl that is ruining American families. I’ve heard from too many families who have lost their loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, I refuse to allow it to continue.”  

An investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the CCP found that the federal government lacks a centralized coordination mechanism to effectively crack down on fentanyl trafficking. Improving federal coordination is critical to combatting fentanyl.

This legislation would establish a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics, which will be composed of representatives from the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and any other agency deemed appropriate. Read the full text of the legislation here.

“The CCP is the leading force behind the fentanyl crisis, and the United States is failing to respond while they profit from the loss of American lives. This Joint Taskforce will pool resources across the federal government and respond to this crisis with everything from sanctions to joint drug raids to keep this deadly substance out of our communities,” said Representative Newhouse. “This task force will help President Trump and his administration accomplish his goal of stopping the flow of fentanyl from China across our northern and southern borders.”

Senator Britt is a strong supporter of multiple pieces of legislation aimed at combatting the deadly fentanyl crisis, including Senator John Kennedy’s (R-La.) Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act. This bill would change the quantity thresholds triggering mandatory minimum prison sentences for fentanyl distribution. It would also direct the U.S. Postal Service to increase its chemical screening and dedicate more personnel to the task of interdicting fentanyl and other illegal substances imported into our country. 

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, she has also committed to working tirelessly to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act, which she voted to advance out of committee and is being considered on the Senate floor. “This bill takes the necessary steps of permanently placing fentanyl-related substances under Schedule 1 classification and ensuring that law enforcement officers have the tools necessary to actually end this epidemic,” said Senator Britt. “The era of allowing deadly fentanyl to flow into our country is over, and I will work tirelessly to get this bill to President Trump’s desk to save lives from this devastating poison.”

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