Pontiac Times

Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan has voted in favor of the HALT Fentanyl Act, a legislative effort aimed at enhancing law enforcement's capacity to prosecute fentanyl traffickers. This action comes as drug overdoses claim nearly 100,000 American lives annually, including young victims such as Caleb and Kyler Kiessling from Oakland County who succumbed to fentanyl poisoning.

"Fentanyl has poisoned too many Americans and destroyed too many families. Every single life lost to the fentanyl crisis is more than just a statistic," stated McClain. "I voted yes on this bill for parents and families just like Caleb and Kyler’s. This is another step toward making our communities safer and saving lives."

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard expressed his support for the legislation, acknowledging its importance in combating the opioid crisis. "Fentanyl has been a scourge across this country taking over 100,000 lives each year. I have personally seen the tragedy in my county, with people of all ages and backgrounds dying from this poison. We must do all in our power to stop this flow and punish those that are profiting from others deaths. We greatly appreciate Congresswoman McClain's efforts to make our community safer by supporting the HALT Fentanyl Act," he said.

The HALT Fentanyl Act proposes permanently placing fentanyl analogues into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. It aims to streamline registration processes for certain research involving Schedule I substances, eliminate barriers hindering research, and grant law enforcement greater authority to seize substances related to fentanyl.