KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott hosted a roundtable discussion on the fentanyl crisis plaguing Florida families and communities across America. The discussion focused on personal stories from parents who have been personally impacted by this crisis as well as representatives from law enforcement and subject-matter experts.

Senator Scott continues to be a leader in combating the lethal fentanyl crisis. Earlier this Congress, Senator Scott’s bipartisan legislation, the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act, was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The END FENTANYL Act will require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to update its policies at least once every three years to ensure operational field manuals, including their drug interdiction guidance, are up to date. This legislation builds off the 2019 GAO report, “Land Ports of Entry: CBP Should Update Policies and Enhance Analysis of Inspections,” that found drug interdiction guidance has not been updated in 20 years. The END FENTANYL Act was cosponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen, Mike Braun, Maggie Hassan and Mark Kelly. Representatives Michael Guest and David Trone led the charge in the House of Representatives. 

Senator Rick Scott said, ”I have been fighting for years to put an end to the deadly fentanyl crisis that continues to ravage communities and hurt families in Florida and across the nation. I constantly hear about the devastating loss caused by fentanyl in Florida and today we heard more heartwrenching stories about the totally preventable destruction its causing in our state and challenges fentanyl and Biden's open border creates for our law enforcement. In March, my END FENTANYL Act was finally signed into law—but we aren’t stopping there. President Biden must do more to secure the border and stop the lethal fentanyl that continues to flow illegally into the U.S. over the southern border he has left wide open and kills tens of thousands of our citizens. Joe Biden’s wide open border is intentional, hurts those who want to live the dreams of this nation and allows dangerous individuals and drugs across our border. Too many lives have been lost from fentanyl flowing illegally into our communities. That’s why I’m continuing to fight to SECURE THE BORDER, hold the administration accountable, and pass critical legislation to combat this heartbreaking epidemic.”

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Earlier this week, Senator Scott joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution designating May 7, 2024, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day as he continues his fight to bring needed attention to the negative impacts of the rise of fentanyl poisoning in the United States. Read more about his resolution HERE.

In addition to these priorities, Senator Scott has sponsored the following bills and taken the following actions against the fentanyl crisis. Read about each HERE.

• Stopping Online Confusion for Investigative Agencies and Law-Enforcement by Maintaining Evidence Determined Interparty Arrangements (SOCIAL MEDIA) Act
• Continuing High-Quality Evaluations of Concerning and Known Persons of Interest Through National Training Updates (CHECKPOINT) Act
• Upholding the Law at the Border Act
• Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act
• Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act
• Opioid Response Action Data and Reforms (RADAR) Act
• Overcoming Prevalent Inadequacies in Overdose Information Data (OPIOIDS) Act

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