The House of Representatives
passed the Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act, bipartisan
legislation introduced by Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) that would create a
task force within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prevent foreign
fentanyl and other opioids from entering the United States.
The bill, which
Langevin introduced with Congressmen Peter King (R-NY), Max Rose (D-NY), and
Michael McCaul (R-TX), passed by a vote of 403-1.
“I have heard from countless Rhode Islanders whose
lives have been affected by opioids like fentanyl,” said Congressman Langevin.
“Rhode Island remains one of the states hit hardest by the opioid overdose
epidemic, and we must tackle the problem from every angle. My Joint Task
Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act requires the Department of Homeland
Security to better coordinate to prevent fentanyl and other opioids from
crossing our border and entering our local communities in the first place. I am
thrilled it passed in the House with bipartisan support, and I urge my Senate
colleagues to join us and pass this important legislation.”
The Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking
Act establishes a Joint Task Force at DHS for the purpose of preventing the
inflow of fentanyl and other opioids into the United States.
Joint Task Forces,
which were first created by former Secretary Jeh Johnson, bring together all of
the various operational components under DHS, such as Customs and Border
Protection and the United States Coast Guard, to ensure unity of effort when
tackling difficult homeland security challenges.
The bill encourages DHS to
work with other federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as
private partners like parcel delivery services, when developing the task force
and carrying out its mission.
