FOLLOWING PUSH BY CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS HALT FENTANYL ACT INTO LAW
Following Push by Congressman Pat Ryan, President Trump Signs HALT Fentanyl Act into Law
Yesterday, President Trump signed Congressman Ryan’s HALT Fentanyl Act into law
The HALT Fentanyl Act passed the House in February following relentless pressure on Speaker Johnson by Congressman Ryan and Sheriffs Figueroa, Arteta, and Imperati
Ryan was one of only two Democrats to cosponsor HALT Fentanyl Act, which will permanently categorize fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances as schedule I controlled substances
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, following relentless pressure by Congressman Pat Ryan, President Trump signed Ryan’s HALT Fentanyl Act into law. The bill passed the House with broad bipartisan support in February. Ryan was one of only two Democrats in the House to cosponsor the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will ensure that law enforcement entities have the tools they need to keep fentanyl out of our communities.
“With the support of all three of our County Sheriffs, I pushed hard to get this bill on the floor – this is a huge win for bolstering public safety in the Hudson Valley, and a critical tool in the fight against fentanyl,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “I’m proud that the HALT Fentanyl Act passed the House with wide bipartisan support earlier this year, and excited to see the President sign it into law. We have to keep up the urgency – I’ll continue fighting every day to get fentanyl off our streets, hold drug traffickers fully accountable, and make our community more safe.”
Congressman Ryan was joined by all three NY-18 County Sheriffs in initially introducing the HALT Fentanyl Act in February:
“Congressman Ryan is the perfect partner for local law enforcement in the fight against drug trafficking – I’m proud to join him in pushing for this much-needed legislation,” said Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa. “From securing federal grants for ORACLE to always standing by our officers in blue, we’re lucky to have him fighting for Ulster County in Washington.”
“My top priority is making sure our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep our communities safe, and I know Congressman Ryan has that exact same mission,” said Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati. “Thank you, Congressman Ryan, for demanding a vote on this crucial legislation that will protect our cops, our kids, and our communities.”
“We are fighting a drug epidemic in our communities,” said Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta. “Fentanyl is flooding our streets, and this recent action by Congressman Ryan will help give law enforcement the tools we need to keep people safe.”
The HALT Fentanyl Act builds on Congressman Ryan’s record by increasing law enforcement’s ability to track and prosecute fentanyl related offences, and protecting American communities from the flow of the deadly illicit substance. It also safeguards the ability to prosecute any fentanyl-related substances, so that suppliers cannot get off on a loophole of slightly altering the formula.
Congressman Pat Ryan has delivered major investments to combat drug trafficking and use in Hudson Valley communities, including $400,000 for the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office crisis intervention ORACLE team that tackles drug trafficking, addiction, and the overdose epidemic in Ulster County. Ryan has repeatedly called for increased funding to address drug trafficking and use, in particular the opioid and fentanyl crisis currently gripping Hudson Valley communities. Congressman Ryan has been adamant that border security legislation must include funding to combat the trafficking of illicit fentanyl across the border, including demanding that $800 million be included in H.R. 2, the border bill passed by House Republicans that failed to include any mention of illicit fentanyl. He cosponsors the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act and the END FENTANYL Act, and pushed for a vote on the Fend Off Fentanyl Act last Congress. Congressman Ryan introduced the Public Safety and Community Support Act to use Byrne-JAG funds for deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs to help local law enforcement combat drug addiction.
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