Indy Standard

U.S. Senator Todd Young, representing Indiana, has joined forces with fellow lawmakers to reintroduce the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. This legislation aims to permanently categorize fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. The House of Representatives approved a companion bill earlier this week.

"Illegally-created fentanyl derivatives are pouring across the southern border and devastating communities in Indiana and across the country," stated Senator Young. "The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify these deadly drugs as Schedule I substances to ensure their sale and distribution can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I urge the Senate to pass this important legislation as soon as possible to empower law enforcement with this critical tool in the fight against opioids."

Fentanyl is currently a scheduled substance; however, Mexican drug cartels have been altering its chemical structure slightly to create fentanyl-related substances that retain similar harmful effects but are not controlled.

In response, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) temporarily classified these substances as Schedule I under its authority within the Controlled Substances Act. This temporary order will expire on March 31, 2025, unless Congress intervenes.

The HALT Fentanyl Act seeks to maintain fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs and ensures that mandatory minimum penalties applicable to fentanyl also apply to trafficking these related substances.

Alongside Senator Young, Senators John Kennedy from Louisiana, Chuck Grassley from Iowa, Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, Martin Heinrich from New Mexico, Roger Marshall from Kansas, Steve Daines from Montana, Eric Schmitt from Missouri, Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire, Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia, Ruben Gallego from Arizona, Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, Mike Rounds from South Dakota and Jeanne Shaheen also introduced this legislation.

Senator Young played a significant role in leading the HALT Fentanyl Act back in 2023.

Full legislative text is available for review.