WASHINGTON— Yesterday, Congressman Jim Banks introduced H.R.8197 Countering Beijing’s Weaponization (CBW) of Fentanyl Act. This legislation would amend the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 to define fentanyl and fentanyl precursors as chemical and biological weapons in U.S. law. This bill would also sanction Chinese Communist Party officials for refusing to curb the flow of fentanyl precursors to the United States.
You can find the bill text here.
Said Rep. Jim Banks: “The Chinese Communist Party is the largest police state in the world. If they wanted to stop the flow of Fentanyl from inside their border to the U.S. and Mexican drug cartels, they could do it overnight. Instead, they are sending this deadly opioid to kill tens of thousands of military and working aged Americans every year to destroy our communities and economy at levels only seen by weapons of mass destruction. They must be held accountable.”
Said Chad Bauer, Captain, Fort Wayne Fire Department: “I lost my beloved 20-year-old son, Logan Bauer in January 2021 to Fentanyl poisoning. Logan thought he was taking a sleeping pill, but instead, it was Fentanyl. Fentanyl and its precursors should absolutely be classified as chemical and biological weapons and Chinese Communist Party officials must be held accountable for this terrible menace. How many more of our children have to die before the United States government puts a stop to this madness? I whole heartedly support this legislation from Congressman Jim Banks to sanction Chinese officials for Fentanyl. Tens of thousands of parents would agree with me.
I’m not only speaking as a father, but as a veteran firefighter and have seen first-hand the deadly consequences of Fentanyl. I have used Narcan on too many people to count. It’s extremely saddening and frustrating. We all know it’s originating from China and we all know it is being pushed into the United States from Mexico, yet our children keep dying! Every US citizen and government official has a duty to protect our children. This legislation is a step towards protecting our children.”
Said Theresa Juillerat, co-founder of Justice Accountability and Victims Advocacy: “Our nation is under attack and the Biden administration is doing very little to acknowledge that Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction, claiming lives, and destroying families across our entire nation. Our children are the collateral damage, the time to end this crisis is NOW!”
Said Nate Moellering, Executive Vice President, Allendale Treatment: “The Chinese Communist Party is well aware of the impact Fentanyl is having on communities across the United States. Some of our best and brightest are having their precious lives cut short because of the greed and negligence on the part of the CCP. Sanctions against China are a great first step when it comes to the federal government doing its part. As a fentanyl survivor, community advocate, and healthcare professional who has vigorously battled fentanyl at the local level in Northeast Indiana for the last six years, I appreciate Congressman Jim Banks and his tireless efforts to combat this deadly epidemic. I implore all members of Congress, regardless of party, to support these sanctions. This is not a red or blue issue. This is a red, white, and blue issue. All American life is precious and must be defended by whatever means necessary.”
President Biden has repeatedly ignored Rep. Banks’ request for a meeting about Hoosier victims of the fentanyl crisis.
Rep. Banks previously introduced the Stop CCP Fentanyl Act to sanction Chairman Xi and China unless China ends its fentanyl exports. Rep. Banks’ amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of Defense to determine whether PRC officials assisted or were aware of the transportation of fentanyl precursors to Mexican drug cartels was signed into law.
