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Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) announced that President Donald Trump signed into law his bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. Co-led by Congressman Latta and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-9), this new law permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the past five years, more than 324,000 fentanyl-related deaths have been recorded in the United States. 

“Today marks a crucial day in the fight against the opioid epidemic as my bipartisan HALT Fentanyl legislation is now the law of the land to help protect American communities by cracking down on deadly fentanyl-related substances and saving lives,” said Latta. “With this law, we’re permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I drug so that the penalties can be put in place to dissuade more hardworking Americans from falling victim to the poison and make our neighborhoods safer. I thank President Trump for signing this vital legislation into law to add another tool in our fight to keep dangerous drugs off our streets and out of the hands of our communities across Ohio and the country.”   

Congressman Latta has consistently championed legislation to fight against the opioid epidemic. Last Congress, he led the HALT Fentanyl Act through the Energy and Commerce Committee and the House, demonstrating his leadership and commitment to combating the spread against deadly fentanyl-related substances.  

In 2018, Congressman Latta along with the Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act, a comprehensive legislative package to tackle the opioid crisis. Included in this legislation was Congressman Latta’s Indexing Narcotics, Fentanyl, and Opioids (INFO) Act, a bill aimed to improve data collection and transparency regarding opioid treatment programs. This year, Congressman Latta played a crucial role in reauthorizing the SUPPORT Act with the same goal of continuing to support those battling substance abuse. 

He has also penned multiple op-eds in support of this legislation including in the Washington Examiner and Washington Times, helping to raise national awareness and save lives.