A bill to safeguard the border and stop the supply of fentanyl was presented by Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.
The Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, according to a news release, will boost technologies and staffing levels “to detect illicit drugs and other contraband being smuggled through ports of entry along the border.”
The ports of entry “along the southwest border” are the most popular entrance points for fentanyl entering the United States, according to the press release.
Senator Mark Kelly stated that, “So much of the fentanyl devastating Pennsylvania families and communities is being smuggled across our southern border…This bill would give federal law enforcement the additional personnel and technology needed to keep our ports of entry fully staffed, stem the flow of illegal drugs, and secure the border.”
Senator Bob Casey stated that, “So much of the fentanyl devastating Pennsylvania families and communities is being smuggled across our southern border…This bill will help stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and provide the hardworking law enforcement officers at the border with the resources, technology, and support they need to do their jobs and secure our border. This bill is a part of a multipronged approach to end the fentanyl crisis by cracking down on the criminals producing and smuggling fentanyl, securing our border, and providing the Americans impacted by fentanyl with the help they need.”
The press release lists the following senators as co-sponsors of the measure in addition to Kelly and Casey:
Senators Ben Ray Lujan: New Mexico Senator
Catherine Cortez Masto: Nevada Senator
Jacky Rosen: Nevada Senator
Tammy Baldwin: Wisconsin Senator
Amy Klobuchar: Minnesota Senator
Mark Warner: Virginia Senator
Sherrod Brown: Ohio Senator
