Central ND News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak has called for the passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act, H.R. 27, during a session on the House Floor. The legislation, which Fedorchak co-sponsored, aims to provide law enforcement with enhanced tools to address illicit fentanyl distribution and enhance community safety in North Dakota.

In her prepared remarks, Congresswoman Fedorchak emphasized the impact of fentanyl trafficking in her state. "In North Dakota, my state, we’re known for our tight-knit communities where people look out for one another," she stated. Despite this communal vigilance, she noted that "illicit fentanyl is smuggled in—stealing innocent lives and leaving families shattered."

Fedorchak highlighted the concerns raised by local law enforcement regarding increasing quantities of fentanyl entering North Dakota. She expressed particular alarm over traffickers targeting young individuals: "What’s most disturbing is how traffickers are targeting our kids. They're poisoning our children."

The congresswoman urged her colleagues to support the bill as a means to counteract these threats effectively. "We must pass the HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently give law enforcement the tools they need," she said. This includes measures against traffickers who manipulate drug formulas to circumvent legal restrictions.

She also criticized current border policies under President Biden's administration and underscored the bipartisan nature of addressing this issue: "The American people have trusted us to fix the mess created by the Biden’s administration’s open border policies." Stressing unity in tackling this crisis, she concluded that it is not merely a partisan matter but an essential solution: "This is not a partisan issue. It’s an important part of the solution. It’s the right thing to do."

Concluding her speech with a call for action, Fedorchak stated, "Let’s pass H.R. 27. I yield back."