WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House where the president signed the INTERDICT Act into law. Senator Capito introduced the bipartisan legislation to help stop the flow of the illicit opioid fentanyl across the U.S. border. After the signing ceremony, she released the following statement:
 
“West Virginians are far too familiar with the devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic, and we lose more people to overdose deaths per capita than any other state in the country. The INTERDICT Act will help us fight back against the growing drug crisis by enhancing our enforcement efforts and ensuring law enforcement professionals have the tools and resources they need to keep dangerous drugs out of our country. While enforcement is only part of the opioid fight, it’s an important one. I’m proud to be part of an effort to improve critical enforcement efforts and to stand next to President Trump as he signed this bipartisan legislation into law.”
 
The INTERDICT Act will help equip U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with scanning devices and other technologies to detect synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Specifically, the law:
  

  • Ensures that CBP will have additional portable chemical screening devices available at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories.
      
  • Provides CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities—including scientists available during all operational hours—to interpret screening test results from the field.
      
  • Authorizes—based on CBP guidance—the appropriation of $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities, and personnel for support during all operational hours.

 
A copy of the legislation is available here.

 

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