Dear Senators Klobuchar and Cornyn,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S. 1175, the “Combatting Online Fentanyl Trafficking Act.”
Fentanyl is currently the most dangerous drug threat facing Americans. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that approximately 100,000 Americans have died as a result of an overdose between April 2021 and February 2022. The vast majority of these deaths, more than 75,000, have come from opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. Oftentimes, these drugs are sold on the dark web, complicating efforts to stem their flow.
Your legislation would authorize incentive pay in an amount not more than 25% of their basic pay for U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) employees with significant cyber skills that assist in the detection, prevention, or prosecution of fentanyl trafficking. With this extra pay, the DOJ would be better able to recruit and retain skilled employees, improving the department’s ability to combat the distribution of this deadly drug.
On behalf of the more than 367,000 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 Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President