Press Releases

 WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and John James (R-MI) introduced the Fentanyl Reduction Engrained by Economic Deterrence (FREED) Act to expand existing sanctions authorities to associates and facilitators of fentanyl traffickers and their operations. This bipartisan legislation also provides the U.S. Department of Treasury with greater authority to determine whether a financial institution is of “primary money laundering concern” relating to their involvement in illicit fentanyl and narcotics financing.

The United States is currently in the third wave of the opioid overdose epidemic, defined by the rise in synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

“Fentanyl has taken over global drug supply chains and was responsible for more than 85% of all opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021. I am all too familiar with the devastating effects of synthetic drugs like these, as my own mother overdosed 20 times in one year because of fentanyl,” said Pettersen. “The opioid crisis has touched countless communities across Colorado and the nation, and I’m proud to partner with Congressman James on this bipartisan bill to crack down on those who traffic these illicit drugs into our communities and the financial institutions involved in fentanyl money laundering.”

“Fentanyl has devastated and uprooted the lives of so many Michiganders and American families. And unfortunately, much of the heartbreak that these families are experiencing related to fentanyl deaths stems from issues on the southern border,” James 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.”
 
"FDD Action supports this critical bipartisan legislation. The Fentanyl Reduction Engrained by Economic Deterrence Act broadens sanctions against individuals and companies engaging in or facilitating the fentanyl trade. It also expands potential sanctions on agencies of foreign governments that are determined to be involved in the fentanyl trade, including those in China. This legislation comes at a critical time, as it would provide the United States with expanded tools to enforce the agreement recently reached between the Biden administration and Chinese government to crack down on the flow of fentanyl precursors and related activities to the United States,” said FDD Action.

Click here to read the full text of the bill.

Inspired by her own mother’s struggle with a substance use disorder, Pettersen has been leading the fight against the opioid epidemic for a decade in the Colorado state legislature and now in Congress. Since January, she has introduced measures to combat this public health crisis and address everything from the import of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, the financing of drug cartels, expanding access to treatment, and preventing overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement, and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.