HALT Fentanyl Act Passes in the House

Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 - 49. It is cheaper to synthesize at large scale and can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Just a few milligrams - which can fit in the ear of Lincoln on a penny - can be lethal. And, since small doses are extremely potent, it is easier to illegally smuggle small batches across our borders. It affects every income level in every demographic in every corner of the country. Even in Minnesota's rural and relatively safe 7th District, one of the top issues I hear from law enforcement officers is about the dire need to get a handle on fentanyl overdoses. It is a heartbreaking epidemic that must be stopped. 

Currently, illicit fentanyl-related substances (FRS) have a temporary classification as a Schedule I drug. This classification is set to expire in March, which would make many fentanyl-related substances street-legal and law enforcement would lose the authority to seize these lethal drugs.

House Republicans and President Trump are committed to ending this tragic crisis in our families. The House passed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (or HALT) Fentanyl Act to make the Schedule I classification permanent. This bill would supply law enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) with the tools needed to keep these dangerous drugs off the streets. And, it would support research efforts to understand the effects of fentanyl-related substances on people's health. I was proud to cosponsor this bill and look forward to continuing the work to stop this epidemic.

Laken Riley Act Becomes Law

I am sure that, like me, you have not forgotten the tragic murder of nursing student Laken Riley, who was out for a run when she was murdered by an illegal alien from Venezuela who had previously been charged with shoplifting. This man was sent to New York City on a taxpayer funded bus. After being arrested for child endangerment, he was released without an ICE detainer. He was then flown to Georgia (on the taxpayer's dime) where he was arrested for shoplifting and, again, was released without a detainer.

The Laken Riley Act, which I co-sponsored, honors the memory of a young woman who was taken far too soon. It closes the loophole that allowed her murderer to evade immigration authorities. It requires detention of illegal aliens who commit lesser crimes, including theft and the assault of a law enforcement officer, and allows a state to sue the federal government for not enforcing border laws. Had the policies in this bill been in place before Laken Riley's tragic murder, local authorities would have reported her killer to ICE well before he could commit this heinous crime and Laken would still be alive today. 

I am pleased to say President Trump has now signed this commonsense bill into law. I am so grateful to be working with a President who understands the importance of protecting our communities from dangerous criminals and is willing to take swift and decisive action.

Social Security Reform For Public Servants

For years, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) have reduced or even eliminated the Social Security benefits of people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security (a "non-covered pension") because they did not pay Social Security taxes. The people impacted by this are police officers, firefighters, teachers, and civil servants. Why would the government decrease benefits for these people who have dedicated their lives to serving the people of their communities?

Thankfully, that is no longer the case. At the end of 2024, the Social Security Fairness Act, which I was a co-sponsor of, was signed into law to repeal these provisions. If you have received a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security, your benefits will increase. WEP and GPO rules do not apply to benefits that are payable for January 2024 or later.

For more information on the Social Security Fairness Act and its benefits, visit the Social Security website and always be on alert for bad actors trying to scam you out of your benefits.

Thank you for reading!

fischbach.house.gov

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