Washington, D.C. – Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) released the following statement:
“As someone, like many in Delaware, who has seen the painful impacts of addiction in my family and as the former Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services in our state, I approach the opioid crisis from a wholistic view. I believe we need a comprehensive approach that includes education, prevention, treatment, and interdiction. I believe the Halt Fentanyl Act falls far short of that, and does not get at the root causes of the epidemic nor address the pain individuals feel day to day.
“For the first time since 2018, there has been a drop in the number of overdose deaths nationally due to significant investments in public health interventions to address this crisis. These include widespread distribution of naloxone, better access to treatments for substance use disorders, increases in interdiction and prevention efforts, and better data collection. This bill, however, would not further these advances and would institute mandatory minimum penalties that take away judge’s discretion in sentencing, further exacerbating the failed war on drugs. We should not retreat from the evidenced-based solutions that have proven to work in favor of an incarceration-only approach.
“I, along with several other senators, proposed amendments to strengthen the bill and ensure we continue with robust public health solutions, including resources for states to administer treatment. Unfortunately, Republican leadership would not agree to consider them and I could not support the bill. Our goal should be preventing overdoses before they happen. This legislation does nothing to slow the distribution of and demand for fentanyl; stop the emergence of new drugs; or treat people suffering from addiction.
“As a member of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force during my time in the House and a lead sponsor of the STOP Fentanyl Act, legislation to bolster our national response to this epidemic, I remain committed in the Senate to finding real and lasting solutions that will save lives.”
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.