Wyden Praises Biden-Harris Effort to Stem the Flow of Fentanyl From Overseas
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announcement that it will take action to inspect more low-value packages and support legislation similar to Wyden’s bipartisan FIGHTING for America Act, which would crack down on fentanyl and other illicit goods entering the United States under expedited, tariff-free “de minimis” procedures.
“I’ve spoken with far too many Oregonians whose lives were ruined by the scourge of fentanyl trafficking. It’s on the federal government to take action to shut down the trade in this deadly drug,” Wyden said. “President Biden’s actions today are a positive step to reform our customs procedures, so CBP can do more to stop fentanyl from entering our country and poisoning our communities. Congress should build on this action with a global solution, like my bipartisan FIGHTING for America Act, which would tighten the rules for importing low-value packages and help CBP more effectively stop unlawful goods from crossing our borders.”
Wyden, with Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., released the bipartisan FIGHTING for America Act in August to stem the flow of low-value shipments from China and other foreign nations and increase CBP oversight to crack down trafficking of fentanyl and other illegal goods. Wyden previously secured language in the 2024 appropriations bill that would address illegal drug trafficking by directing CBP to designate the importation of fentanyl and other illicit goods through the expedited de minimis process as a priority trade issue.
###
Next Article Previous Article