SEVEN NEWS. A NEW BILL IN CONGRESS AIMS TO TACKLE THE FENTANYL CRISIS GLOBALLY AND IN NEW MEXICO. LEADERS IN WASHINGTON TELL US ABOUT THEIR NEW PLAN OF ATTACK. THAT’S RIGHT. SO NEW MEXICO REPRESENTATIVE MELANIE STANSBURY SAYS SHE IS AWARE OF THE HEALTH CRISIS, BUT SAYS IT’S COMING IN THE FORM OF ILLEGAL FENTANYL PILLS. SHE’S INTRODUCED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION SHE BELIEVES WILL HIT THE CRIMINALS WHERE IT HURTS. REPRESENTATIVE MELANIE STANSBURY INTRODUCING THE STOP THE OPIOID PILL PROCESSOR AND FENTANYL ACT, OR STOP FENTANYL ACT, A BILL SHE SAYS SERVES MANY PURPOSES BUT ADDRESSES ONE ISSUE IN PARTICULAR. THIS BILL WOULD PROVIDE ONE TOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO AFTER THE CARTELS. THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SELLING AND MANUFACTURING ILLICIT PILLS THAT CONTAIN FENTANYL. THIS COMING AFTER THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY, SAYING CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE USING MACHINERY TO CREATE FAKE PILLS TO DISTRIBUTE AT WILL. THE BILL WOULD OFFER RESOURCES TO HELP TARGET WHO’S BUYING THIS EQUIPMENT AND TRACE THEM BACK TO BAD ACTORS. OVER 700 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY OVERDOSED FROM FENTANYL IN NEW MEXICO ALONE LAST YEAR. THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, SEIZING MORE THAN 80 MILLION OF THESE PILLS IN 2023. AND THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL REPORTING THE AMOUNT OF FENTANYL BEING SEIZED HAS QUADRUPLED SINCE 2017. STANSBURY SAYS THIS IS MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER BILL, BUT ALSO A PERSONAL ISSUE BECAUSE SHE’S DEALT WITH LOSS OF A LOVED ONE TO FENTANYL BEFORE. THESE STORIES TRANSCEND RACE, CLASS, COMMUNITY. THERE IS NOT A COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT BEING AFFECTED BY THIS. IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE. REPORTER STANSBURY HAS INTRODUCED A PIECE OF THIS AMENDMENT. NO. EXCUSE ME. BILL, AS AN AMENDMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, WHICH RECEIVED
NM congress members pushing legislation to tackle fentanyl production
The Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act or STOPP Fentanyl Act aims to track pill presses being used by criminal organizations.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury has introduced the Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act or STOPP Fentanyl Act. It’s a bill she says serves many purposes but addresses one issue in particular. “This bill would provide one tool for law enforcement to go after the cartel, the drug traffickers, the people who are selling and manufacturing illicit pills that contain fentanyl,” Stansbury said.This comes after the Office of National Drug Control Policy said criminal organizations are using machinery to create fake pills to distribute at will. The bill would offer resources to help target those who are buying this equipment and trace them back to bad actors. “Over 700 members of our community overdosed from fentanyl in New Mexico alone last year,” Stansbury said.The Drug Enforcement Agency seized more than 80 million of these pills in 2023, and the Centers for Disease Control reporting the amount of fentanyl being seized has quadrupled since 2017. Stansbury says this is more than just another bill but also a personal issue because she’s dealt with the loss of a loved one to fentanyl before.”These stories transcend race, class, community,” Stansbury said. “There is not a community that is not being affected by this.”
WASHINGTON —
Rep. Melanie Stansbury has introduced the Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act or STOPP Fentanyl Act. It’s a bill she says serves many purposes but addresses one issue in particular.
“This bill would provide one tool for law enforcement to go after the cartel, the drug traffickers, the people who are selling and manufacturing illicit pills that contain fentanyl,” Stansbury said.
This comes after the Office of National Drug Control Policy said criminal organizations are using machinery to create fake pills to distribute at will. The bill would offer resources to help target those who are buying this equipment and trace them back to bad actors.
“Over 700 members of our community overdosed from fentanyl in New Mexico alone last year,” Stansbury said.
The Drug Enforcement Agency seized more than 80 million of these pills in 2023, and the Centers for Disease Control reporting the amount of fentanyl being seized has quadrupled since 2017. Stansbury says this is more than just another bill but also a personal issue because she’s dealt with the loss of a loved one to fentanyl before.
“These stories transcend race, class, community,” Stansbury said. “There is not a community that is not being affected by this.”