Moolenaar Votes to Extend Emergency Ban on Dangerous Fentanyl Analogues

Today, the House of Representatives voted to extend a comprehensive ban on dangerous fentanyl analogues.

Tragically, fentanyl has killed thousands of Americans over the last few years as part of the nation's opioid crisis. However, it was difficult to ban and prosecute producers and traffickers of the drug because they can easily change the chemical composition of fentanyl and its analogues.

In February 2018, the Trump Administration used special emergency powers to ban all fentanyl analogues. However, the emergency ban could only be in place for two years and it is set to expire on February 6.

Today, the House voted to extend the ban until May 6, 2021.

Congressman John Moolenaar voted for the bill and made the following statement:

"While the Coronavirus in China is a serious concern, fentanyl from China is even more deadly. Last summer, law enforcement seized an amount of fentanyl from China that was enough to kill 14 million people. Today's emergency extension of the comprehensive ban on fentanyl will enable law enforcement to continue these seizures and fully prosecute fentanyl producers and traffickers. Stopping this flow of drugs is crucial to ending the opioid epidemic and saving the lives of our loved ones in mid and northern Michigan."