Senator Bob Casey Leads Bipartisan Effort to Crack Down on Fentanyl Trafficking from China and Mexico
Sen. Casey Was Joined by Pennsylvania Law Enforcement, Family of Overdose Victim to Discuss his FEND Off Fentanyl Act
WESA: “Federal Efforts Like Casey’s Proposed Law Will Help Out Police Agencies In Allegheny County, According To Christopher Kearns, The Superintendent Of The Allegheny County Police.”
PENNSYLVANIA – Senator Bob Casey is leading the charge to cut off the supply chain of fentanyl from China and Mexico. Last week, Sen. Casey was joined by Pennslyvanian law enforcement and the mother of an overdose victim to push for his bipartisan legislation, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act.
The bill would declare international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and work to dismantle the fentanyl supply chain by directing the United States to sanction the chemical suppliers in China and cartels in Mexico that are responsible for illegally trafficking fentanyl into the Commonwealth and the Nation.
Read more about Sen. Casey’s leadership below:
WESA: Sen. Casey pushes bill to crack down on illicit fentanyl from China and Mexico
- Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey is co-sponsoring a bill in the U.S. Senate that would give the federal government more authority to impose financial sanctions against individuals and companies in China and Mexico who participate in the illicit trade of fentanyl.
- The proposed law, The FEND Off Fentanyl Act, would declare international trafficking in fentanyl a national emergency and empower the President of the United States to sanction people involved in trafficking and use the funds seized to fight the spread of fentanyl.
- Federal efforts like Casey’s proposed law will help out police agencies in Allegheny County, according to Christopher Kearns, the superintendent of the Allegheny County Police.
- Janet Morrison-Heberling lost her 30-year-old daughter, Brianna Sanner, last year to a fatal overdose and said she supports Casey’s efforts.
- “In the long run, the best way to reduce the likelihood that we’re not going to see more tragedies like we heard today from Janet is to hit these players at their source. Hit them in China and hit them in Mexico very hard,” Casey said.
- Casey said that he is going to push for additional federal resources to support drug enforcement as well as treatment. “There’s more obviously, more to do to make sure that we’re helping those who need treatment,” he said. “And we’re just beginning, I think, as a nation to get our arms around the resources we’re going to need for that.”
WTAE: Sen. Bob Casey announces Fend Off Fentanyl Act to reverse overdose trend
- Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Bob Casey joined Allegheny County police in denouncing the grim death toll caused by the use of fentanyl mixed with opioids.
- County police say the lethal mix accounts for 84 percent of overdose deaths in the county, one reason why Casey is publicly bringing attention to the Fend Off Fentanyl Act, that’s making its way through Congress.
- “We need to get serious about stopping fentanyl traffickers and hitting them where it hurts, their bottom line, and hitting them hard,” Casey said at Allegheny County police headquarters. “That’s why we’re trying to pass legislation, the Fend Off Fentanyl Act.”
WPXI: Sen. Casey pushes plan to address the United States’ fentanyl epidemic
- “Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey was in Pittsburgh today pushing a plan to address the nation’s fentanyl epidemic. He says his plan will crack down on illicit opioid supply chains by targeting the financial assets of international criminal organizations, including suppliers in China and Mexico.”
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