Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on Senate passage of the Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act earlier this week, sending it to the President’s desk. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
On Tuesday night, as I mentioned, we also passed another significant bill, another crucial bill to combat the scourge of drug trafficking: the Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act. This bill will get to the root of the financing behind deadly and destructive drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine.
I want to thank every senator who supported this bill, particularly our two amazing Senators from Nevada, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. They worked very hard to see that this happened, that this bill passed.
This drug trafficking bill is the latest example of the concerted effort in the Senate to combat America’s drug crisis. Last fall, I met with Chinese President Xi, along with my colleagues, bipartisan, and we urged him and the Chinese government to do more to crack down on Chinese companies that make precursor chemicals and send them to Mexico, where the gangs turn them into fentanyl.
A few months ago, I also led the Senate in passing the national security supplemental which included the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act, so we’re making good progress on the scourge of fentanyl, which had tens of thousands of our young people die, and some of our law enforcement officers as well.
So, the American people should take note: there have been very important things happening in the Senate recently to combat drug trafficking. This bill has already passed the House, it should go to the President’s desk and be signed quickly. Another marker, another action in our fight to end the horrible scourge of fentanyl, which has taken so many young lives including the bipartisan bill we passed this week. I thank my colleagues who got this bill done.
###