FOLLOWING PUSH BY CONGRESSMAN RYAN AND HUDSON VALLEY SHERIFFS, HALT FENTANYL ACT PASSES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Following Push by Congressman Ryan and Hudson Valley Sheriffs, HALT Fentanyl Act Passes House of Representatives
Last week, Ryan, with support from Ulster County Sheriff Figueroa, Orange County Sheriff Arteta, and Dutchess County Sheriff Imperati, demanded Speaker Johnson bring bill to floor for immediate vote
Ryan was one of only two Democrats to cosponsor HALT Fentanyl Act, which would permanently categorize fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances as schedule I controlled substances
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, just 10 days after Congressman Pat Ryan and all three County Sheriffs in NY-18 demanded Speaker Mike Johnson bring the HALT Fentanyl Act to the floor, the bill passed the House with wide bipartisan support. 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.
“Alongside 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 encouraged that the HALT Fentanyl Act passed the House with wide bipartisan support, but 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.”
“We’re lucky to have a representative in Washington like Congressman Ryan, who puts bolstering public safety front and center every day,” said Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati. “Hudson Valley families will be safer because Congressman Ryan pushed for this bill to get through the House. As always, I look forward to our continued partnership on behalf of all law enforcement officers and the community that we’re proud to serve.”
“Today, because of Congressman Ryan and his colleagues, Law Enforcement will now have the resources necessary to effectively tackle the unprecedented challenges fentanyl and other illegal drugs present. These deadly drugs are not only fueling addiction, but they are also propagating violence and destruction,” said Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta. “On a local level, if Law Enforcement Officers have the tools they need to disrupt the supply chain, hold the suppliers accountable, and bring more resources into our communities, we should expect to see lower crime rates and reduced overdose deaths. The drug crisis continues to put an immense strain on our healthcare and law enforcement systems; with the passing of the HALT Fentanyl Act, there is hope for some relief.”
“Congressman Ryan is the perfect partner for local law enforcement in the fight against drug trafficking – I was 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.”
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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