Lubbock Times

House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington has cast his vote in favor of H.R.27, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. This legislation aims to permanently categorize fentanyl under Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act.

Arrington expressed strong support for the measure, attributing issues at the southern border to current administration policies. "The Biden administration’s surrender of our southern border to narco-terrorists drug cartels fueled the invasion of drugs, crime, and criminals into our communities," said Arrington. "The result: the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans from fentanyl poisoning. That’s why I’m proud to support the HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 and ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to combat these deadly drugs."

The HALT Fentanyl Act includes several key provisions:

- It addresses permanent scheduling for fentanyl analogues within Schedule I.

- It allows researchers more freedom to study these substances.

- The act aligns with recommendations made by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in September 2021.

- It seeks to simplify registration processes for research involving Schedule I substances.

- There is also a provision for exempting certain analogues from Schedule I when appropriate evidence is presented.

This piece of legislation had previously passed in the House in 2023.