Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, released the following statement about the inclusion of H.R. 3333/S. 1271, the “Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act,” in the recently passed foreign aid package:

The FOP is pleased to have played a key role in ensuring that the FEND Off Fentanyl Act was signed into law recently. We were fortunate to have a good friend and partner, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Chairman of the Banking Committee, helping to lead this effort. Together with the bill’s sponsor, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, we were able to get this bill over the finish line. With the passage of this bill, our country has taken a huge step in fighting back against the scourge of fentanyl.

Fentanyl has inflicted an immense toll on communities nationwide, and it has tragically become the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-49. Our officers, who are on the frontlines of this epidemic, know firsthand the damage that this drug has caused in our communities. They’ve seen the stark reality of countless lives cut short and families irreversibly shattered by this potent drug, which is why the FOP worked so hard to get this bill passed.

The law directs the resources of the U.S. government to target the fentanyl supply chain, from the chemical suppliers in China to the cartels in Mexico smuggling it into the United States, by implementing and enforcing sanctions on criminal actors and organizations. The law also directs the U.S. Department of the Treasury to use special measures to combat money-laundering operations related to trafficking in fentanyl and similar opioids. By reducing the profitability of the drug trade, these efforts aim to hold accountable those who callously profit from the tragic loss of American lives.

Our members are committed to keeping their communities safe, and this legislation will help them do that.