Yesterday, in response to the rise of fentanyl being trafficked across the southern border and into American communities, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues to introduce the Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act, which makes the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death punishable by federal felony murder charges.

 

Senator Rick Scott said, “People who knowingly distribute lethal fentanyl deserve the strictest sentence possible. For too long, people have suffered addiction and death because of this evil drug that is pouring across Joe Biden’s open southern border. Fentanyl has skyrocketed to the number one killer of young people, and to put an end to this crisis, strong actions must be taken. I am proud to join Senator Rubio in standing up for victims of this crisis, and urge the immediate passage of this critically important bill.”

 

Read more from Senator Rubio’s office below.

RUBIO, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE BILL TO MAKE DISTRIBUTION OF DEADLY FENTANYL CHARGEABLE AS FELONY MURDER

 

Illicit use of fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, drug dealers are increasingly targeting children and young people with fentanyl pills made to look like candy.

 

In response to the rise of fentanyl being trafficked across our southern border and into our communities, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act. The bill, which Rubio announced in a Fox News op-ed, makes the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death punishable by federal felony murder charges.

 

• “Fentanyl is killing Americans at a record high. This deadly drug is widespread throughout our country and has left no community untouched. This bill would make drug dealers pay the price for selling deadly fentanyl.” – Senator Rubio

 
U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

• “Fentanyl is being smuggled through our southern border at record levels. Not only has this lethal drug led to thousands of American deaths, but cartels are now targeting our children and young people. With the Biden Administration failing to resolve this national security crisis, it is time for Congress to take matters into its own hands. That’s why I am proud to introduce this critical legislation alongside Senator Rubio to ensure criminals who traffic this deadly drug are met with severe penalties under the law .” – Representative Gonzales

 
Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Cornyn (R-TX), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) cosponsored the bill.
 

• “Fentanyl, the leading cause of death in the U.S. for adults age 18 to 45, is a weapon of destruction that is stealing the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year. Those responsible for the fatalities caused by distribution of this shockingly lethal drug must be held accountable. This commonsense legislation is a step toward stopping the flow of fentanyl into America and ending the deadly drug crisis wreaking havoc on our country.” – Senator Hagerty

 

• “People who knowingly distribute lethal fentanyl deserve the strictest sentence possible. For too long, people have suffered addiction and death because of this evil drug that is pouring across Joe Biden’s open southern border. Fentanyl has skyrocketed to the number one killer of young people, and to put an end to this crisis, strong actions must be taken. I am proud to join Senator Rubio in standing up for victims of this crisis, and urge the immediate passage of this critically important bill.” – Senator Scott

 

• “Criminals poisoning Americans with fentanyl should be treated the same as someone pulling the trigger of a gun. If drug dealers and cartels push this deadly substance, they will face justice.” – Senator Cassidy

 

• “A wide open Southern border has fueled a fentanyl epidemic in this country. The dealers and distributors of this deadly drug must be held accountable, and that’s what we’re fighting to do. This effort will impose felony murder charges for people who willingly distribute this lethal opioid to unknowing recipients.” – Senator Ernst

 

• “The felony prosecution of fentanyl smugglers and dealers is long overdue. Their movement and distribution of this drug is unprecedented and has resulted in Fentanyl becoming the number one cause of death for Americans under the age of 45. This is due to the cartels pushing fentanyl across the border and killing Americans, but also to the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border. I am proud to stand with my colleagues as we fight for justice for the victims of America’s fentanyl epidemic and our open border.” – Senator Cruz

 

• “The Biden border crisis has caused an epidemic of fentanyl flooding our communities, and the results have been deadly. It’s time to get serious about holding illegal fentanyl traffickers responsible.” – Senator Hawley

 

• “Fentanyl is the leading cause of death among young adults nationally, and it is the number one public safety threat in Montana. The fentanyl crisis tearing our communities apart is the result of Biden’s wide open southern border. We need swift, meaningful action to combat this epidemic – that includes cracking down on the criminals distributing it.” – Senator Daines

• “The Biden administration has failed to enforce multiple policies to stop fentanyl from coming across the border, even though it is now the leading cause of death for adults aged 18 to 45.  This legislation is desperately needed to protect our communities by ensuring harsher consequences to those who knowingly distribute this deadly drug in Mississippi and across the country.” – Senator Hyde-Smith

 

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