Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines' "Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act" has successfully passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation aims to address the fentanyl crisis by permanently classifying fentanyl and its related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification is reserved for substances with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The bill received bipartisan support during its passage.

Senator Daines commented on the situation, stating, "Under Joe Biden our border spiraled out of control and every state felt the burden, including Montana. Just last week I met with law enforcement in Gallatin County to talk about the impacts of fentanyl from the border, and it’s a deadly problem that needs to be addressed. I’m glad to work with my colleagues on this commonsense legislation that will crack down on drug trafficking and help make our country safe again."

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen also expressed support for the bill, saying, "I applaud Senator Daines and his colleagues in the Senate for voting to save American lives. For years, the Biden administration’s open border policies allowed fentanyl to flow into the country unfettered, killing Americans and Montanans at unprecedented rates and destroying communities across the country. The HALT Fentanyl Act will help end the crisis and give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to hold fentanyl traffickers accountable."

The HALT Fentanyl Act not only seeks to make permanent changes regarding drug classification but also aims to remove obstacles that hinder research on these substances.

Senator Daines recently met with Gallatin County Undersheriff Jeremy Kopp and Commander of the Missouri River Drug Task Force Nathan Kamerman in Bozeman, Montana, to discuss issues related to fentanyl trafficking due to what he describes as an open southern border policy under President Biden's administration.