Georgia Attorney General Joins 25-State Coalition Urging Senate to Pass HALT Fentanyl Act

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a coalition of 25 attorneys general in urging the U.S. Senate to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act, a measure aimed at closing legal loopholes for fentanyl analogues and strengthening law enforcement’s ability to prosecute traffickers.

“The Biden administration’s open border policies allowed for the influx of deadly fentanyl that’s flooding our communities, and we’re using all available resources to combat this crisis and save lives,” Carr said. “We’re fighting this battle on multiple fronts by going after the criminal illegal aliens who are smuggling fentanyl across the border, dismantling the violent gang networks that are selling deadly and dangerous drugs on our streets, and securing critical resources to help those who are struggling with addiction. We’re proud to join our fellow attorneys general in supporting this crucial measure, and we urge the U.S. Senate to do the same.”

Fentanyl was involved in nearly 70% of the more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2023. Between October 2021 and June 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized enough fentanyl to kill the entire U.S. population five times over. Mexican drug cartels continue to smuggle fentanyl and its more potent analogues across the southern border.

Copycat fentanyl, or fentanyl analogues, are chemically modified to evade U.S. drug laws and can be even more dangerous than prescription fentanyl. While Congress temporarily classified fentanyl and its analogues as Schedule I drugs, that status is set to expire on March 31, 2025. The HALT Fentanyl Act would make the classification permanent.

The U.S. House of Representatives already passed the bill with bipartisan support. The attorneys general from 25 states, including Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Ohio, are now calling on the Senate to act.