Jayapal Statement on HALT Fentanyl Act, Protecting American Energy Production Act

SEATTLE, WA – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal issued the following statements regarding how she would have voted on legislation on the House Floor this week while in India mourning the passing of her father:

“Had I been present in Congress this week, I would have voted NO on both bills. 

“While we all agree that there must be more done to protect our communities from fentanyl, the HALT Fentanyl Act is far too broad and ignores all medical uses of ‘fentanyl-related substances.’ These substances should be controlled, but when prescribed and used as directed, many of them are critical pain management tools. This is just another performative step by Republicans to put themselves in between patients and doctors while criminalizing care and expanding harsh mandatory minimum sentencing requirements. If they were serious about addressing the opioid epidemic, President Trump wouldn’t have frozen $6.5 billion in funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which supports naloxone programs, treatment programs, and prevention efforts, frozen $1.5 billion in funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Drug Abuse and Addiction Research programs, which identify treatments and reduce overdoses, or proposed cutting up to $2.5 trillion in Medicaid funding, which would seriously undermine our ability to address the opioid epidemic. If President Trump were serious about stopping illicit fentanyl from entering our country, he would lift his foreign aid freeze, which has halted law enforcement efforts to investigate and stop fentanyl trafficking.

“This week, Republicans also passed the Protecting American Energy Production Act, a bill that puts the financial interests of Big Oil CEOs and corporations over the proven health risks associated with fracking. This bill has nothing to do with lowering costs for American families and everything to do with protecting pro-polluter interests and Big Oil allies. What’s more, fracking chemicals are strongly linked to an increased risk of childhood cancer, preterm births, asthma, and more. Once again, Republican lawmakers are putting their donors ahead of children, the environment, and public health. 

“I look forward to returning to Congress next week. We must work to fight back not only on bad legislation, but also on the incredibly destructive actions taken in recent days by the Trump Administration. People’s lives and jobs are on the line – and I am ready to hold the line and work to protect communities across this country.”