Dear Representatives Katko and Rice,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our strong support for your bill, H.R. 4963, the “Stop the Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act.”
Existing laws prohibit the unauthorized use of certain specific controlled substances. However, illicit drug-makers and importers are circumventing those laws by slightly altering the molecular structure of a controlled drug to create a new, yet significantly similar substance, which is not specifically illegal. This allows them to make, market and move substances that are intended to have the same potentially deadly effect as controlled drugs prohibited by existing law. Hundreds of these synthetic drugs are manufactured overseas in China with no regulation or lawful medical purpose. These drugs are specifically designed to evade the law. There are reports of 49,000 new chemicals used in the manufacturing of these synthetic drugs. This is costing children and teenagers their lives.
Under the current drug scheduling system, uncontrolled substances must first be subject to a time-consuming analysis before being permanently regulated or prohibited. In an effort to fight the rapid spread of deadly synthetic drugs-which can quickly be re-engineered to circumvent Federal laws designed to prohibit them-this legislation is designed to help law enforcement more rapidly respond to the fast-paced modification of synthetic drugs such as analogues to fentanyl.
By modernizing the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), this legislation will add Schedule A to the existing 5 schedules of the CSA It will establish a mechanism by which synthetic analogues can be temporarily added to Schedule A by the Attorney General if the substance meets Schedule A criteria and if scheduling the substance will assist in preventing abuse. Prior to issuance, the Attorney General shall notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and take into consideration any comments submitted by the Secretary. Temporary scheduling may occur for up to 5 years.
On behalf of the more than 349,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proud to offer our support for this legislation. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Executive Director, Jim Pasco, in my Washington office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President