Baldwin Votes to Strengthen Penalties, Step Up Enforcement Around Deadly Fentanyl
Baldwin has taken all of government approach to stop the fentanyl crisis, pushing for more border security, support for state and local communities, and increased access to Narcan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after voting to pass the bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, putting the drug on par with the deadliest and most dangerous substances.
The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify street versions of fentanyl as Schedule I substances, ensuring clear and enforceable penalties under the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It also streamlines the registration process for studying Schedule I substances, allowing researchers to better understand and address the fentanyl crisis, while bolstering efforts to research fentanyl equivalents. Fentanyl-related substances are currently considered a Schedule I substance on a temporary basis until March 31; however, this legislation would make that qualification permanent. The HALT Fentanyl Act ensures that street versions of fentanyl produced by transnational criminal organizations are subject to criminal penalties and enables law enforcement, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to have the authority to seize these illicit substances and keep our communities safe.
In Wisconsin, synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, were identified in 91 percent of opioid overdose deaths and 73 percent of all drug overdose deaths, according to the Department of Health Services. Provisional data shows the number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Wisconsin grew by 97 percent from 2019 (651) to 2021 (1,280).
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- Baldwin Votes to Strengthen Penalties, Step Up Enforcement Around Deadly Fentanyl - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Mar 17th, 2025
- Wisconsin Communities Get Millions From Opioid Settlement as Deaths Decline - Evan Casey - Mar 1st, 2025
- MKE County: County Creates Easy Public Access To Overdose Data - Graham Kilmer - Feb 18th, 2025
- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and the Office of Emergency Management Launch New Overdose Dashboard - County Executive David Crowley - Feb 18th, 2025
- Fitzgerald Advances Legislation to Fight Opioid Epidemic - U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald - Feb 6th, 2025
- Milwaukee Is Losing a Generation of Black Men To Drug Crisis - Edgar Mendez and Devin Blake - Jan 31st, 2025
- Milwaukee County’s Overdose Deaths Declined For Second Straight Year - Evan Casey - Jan 27th, 2025
- MKE County: United Community Center Awarded Drug Company Money For Addiction Treatment - Graham Kilmer - Jan 12th, 2025
- DHS Provides Update on Distribution of Latest Opioid Settlement Funds - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Jan 9th, 2025
- Menominee Tribe Has 70% Decline in Overdose Deaths, Hospitalizations - Joe Schulz - Nov 27th, 2024
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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