WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced a resolution designating April 29, 2025, as “National Fentanyl Awareness Day” to drive awareness of counterfeit fentanyl pills.
“Fentanyl overdoses claimed the lives of more than 58,000 Americans last year, many of whom suffered from accidental poisonings after taking counterfeit prescription pills. President Trump has taken strong action to stem the flow of fentanyl pills. Additionally, Congress must act to hold corporations accountable for their role in the illicit drug trade,” Grassley said. “Our resolution demonstrates continuing resolve to put an end to America’s fentanyl epidemic.”
“There’s always more we can and should be doing to address the substance use disorder crisis and prevent more Granite Staters from dying of drug overdoses,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our resolution memorializes the lives that have been lost to this epidemic and underscores the need to raise awareness and commit more resources to combating the flow of fentanyl into our communities.”
Grassley and Shaheen are joined by Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Hoeven (R-N.D), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Read the resolution HERE.
Background:
America saw more than 84,000 recorded drug overdose deaths last year alone. This surge is largely due to illicit fentanyl and counterfeit prescription pills. In 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 60 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, which often resemble prescription medication and are marketed to young Americans through social media.
This Congress, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Grassley-led HALT Fentanyl Act by a vote of 84-16, which would make permanent fentanyl-related substances’ Schedule I classification. Grassley also introduced legislation to help communities identify and tackle drug abuse trends, crack down on illicit xylazine and protect first responders from secondary exposure to lethal narcotics.
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