WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) introduced the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025, aiming to address the devastating impact of fentanyl in the United States. With broad bipartisan support, the legislation strives to strengthen federal coordination in combating fentanyl trafficking, holding China accountable for its role in the crisis, and dismantling transnational drug networks.
“Fentanyl killed nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year and over 200 Americans each day,” Senator McCormick noted. “This legislation empowers the federal government to use every tool available to disrupt trafficking networks and end the scourge that is destroying American families.”
Joining McCormick in the Senate are co-sponsors Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). The House version of the proposal, equally bipartisan, includes sponsorship by multiple Representatives from across the political spectrum, including Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).
The bill establishes a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics, uniting representatives from agencies such as the Justice Department, Treasury, State, Homeland Security, and Defense. The task force would focus on coordinating enforcement actions, disrupting trafficking networks, and confronting the People’s Republic of China for its role in producing and exporting fentanyl precursors. Agencies would also work jointly on sanctions, intelligence sharing, and operations targeting cartels and smugglers.
“Fentanyl continues to claim lives every day and devastate communities in Delaware and across the country,” Senator Coons stated. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan bill to streamline agency coordination and enhance law enforcement efforts.”
Senator Britt emphasized the human toll of the crisis, saying, “During my time in the Senate, I’ve met with far too many grieving parents who’ve lost their children to this epidemic. Americans need Congress to act decisively now.”
Senator Fetterman echoed these sentiments, describing fentanyl’s impact as a “crisis that demands a crisis-level response” and affirming his commitment to working across party lines to save lives.
Lawmakers also pointed to China’s central role in the crisis. Representative Newhouse characterized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as “the leading force behind the fentanyl crisis,” calling for bold action through sanctions and coordinated federal responses. Representative Krishnamoorthi emphasized the need for accountability, adding, “This task force provides a framework to hold bad actors responsible for the state-sanctioned poisoning of Americans.”
If enacted, this legislation aims to reduce fatalities, disrupt supply chains, and mitigate the devastating impact of synthetic drugs on families and communities nationwide. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle underscored the urgency of the issue, expressing hope that the bill will fast-track through Congress and put America on a stronger path toward tackling the fentanyl epidemic.
With bipartisan momentum building, the legislation marks a significant step toward uniting government resources to confront one of the most pressing public health and security threats facing the nation today.
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