Pappas Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Extend Fentanyl Analogue Scheduling

On December 15, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced a bill to extend Pappas’s bipartisan fentanyl analogue scheduling legislation through December 31, 2024.

“Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl analogues, have claimed the lives of too many, and all our families have been touched by this issue in one way or another,” said Congressman Pappas. “Extending the temporary scheduling of these dangerous substances is critical to helping save lives and ensuring law enforcement retains the tools they need to hold traffickers accountable. Moving forward, I remain committed to working across the aisle, with health and public safety experts, and with members of our law enforcement to push for comprehensive solutions that will keep our families and communities safe.”

Background:

In May 2021, President Biden signed into law legislation introduced by Pappas in April 2021 to extend the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) temporary order to keep fentanyl analogues in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to ensure law enforcement can keep them off the streets. This is a designation used for substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. 

At Pappas’s urging, FY 2022 appropriations extended his bipartisan legislation through December 31, 2022 to ensure there would be no lapse in scheduling. His new legislation will again extend temporary scheduling while he fights for the passage of permanent fentanyl analogue scheduling legislation.