The Warren Sun

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives John James (MI-10) and Brittany Pettersen (CO-7) have introduced the Fentanyl Reduction Engrained by Economic Deterrence Act (FREED) Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening sanctions on fentanyl traffickers and their associates. The legislation also grants the U.S. Department of Treasury greater authority to identify financial institutions involved in illicit fentanyl and narcotics financing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2022, nearly 3,000 people in Michigan lost their lives to drug poisonings, with the majority of deaths attributed to fentanyl. In a recent incident in Macomb County, Warren police seized 3,500 pills containing 2 kilos of fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Agency states that just one kilo of fentanyl can be fatal to up to 500,000 people.

Rep. John James, one of the co-sponsors of the bill, expressed his concern about the devastating impact of fentanyl on American families, particularly in Michigan. He attributed a significant portion of the problem to issues at the southern border and emphasized the need to strengthen tools against fentanyl traffickers. He said, "The FREED Act will strengthen tools that we already use against Russia and Iran to go after fentanyl traffickers in Mexico and throughout the western hemisphere to strengthen our defense against this deadly drug."

Rep. Brittany Pettersen, another co-sponsor of the legislation, shared her personal connection to the issue, revealing that her own mother had overdosed multiple times due to fentanyl. She highlighted the alarming fact that fentanyl accounted for over 85% of all opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021. Rep. Pettersen expressed her commitment to cracking down on those who traffic illicit drugs and the financial institutions involved in fentanyl money laundering.

The FDD Action, a non-profit organization, has voiced its support for the FREED Act, praising its efforts to broaden sanctions against individuals and companies engaged in the fentanyl trade. They particularly highlighted the expansion of potential sanctions on agencies of foreign governments involved in the fentanyl trade, including those in China. They emphasized the importance of this legislation in enforcing the recent agreement between the Biden administration and the Chinese government to address the flow of fentanyl precursors to the United States.

Rep. John James, as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is dedicated to halting the influx of fentanyl into the country. He recognizes that the problem extends beyond drug cartels to include the availability of precursor chemicals for fentanyl production. He believes that sanctioning these operations is a crucial step in inflicting financial consequences on narco-terrorists responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans each year.

The full text of the FREED Act can be accessed [here](link).

Click this link to access more information: https://james.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-john-james-introduces-legislation-strengthen-sanctions-fentanyl