Dear Madam Speaker and Representatives Hoyer, McCarthy, and Scalise,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our strong support for the swift consideration and passage of S. 3201, the “Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act,” which the Senate passed by unanimous consent. The legislation would extend for 15 months the classification of fentanyl as a Schedule I drug-a classification which expires on 6 February 2020.
For this reason, the consideration and passage of this bill is a matter of some urgency, as drug overdose deaths are surging across the country due in large part to synthetic opioids-primarily fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Congress gave the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) the authority to categorize fentanyl and its analogues as Schedule I drugs, but only on a temporary basis. Congress has several bills to address the expiration of this scheduling, but as this deadline is just two weeks away, it is vital that Congress extend the DEA’s authority for an additional 15 months to allow Congress to consider a more permanent solution.
On behalf of the more than 350,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I urge the House to quickly consider S. 3201 and send it to the President before the 6 February 2020 deadline. 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