[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6346225,"mediaKeyId","2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a","parentId",2247225,"title","Sheriffs and Senators Press for More HIDA Funding, Naloxone and School Education as Part of Fentanyl Response","audioSeconds",1475,"startMs",3490000,"endMs",4965000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a&start=3490&end=4965","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a/thumbnail_3490000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346225/Sheriffs-and-Senators-Press-for-More-HIDA-Funding-Naloxone-and-School-Education-as-Part-of-Fentanyl-Response","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346225-ba9460141c7b17d0324d8aa6e8260e09/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155194&Signature=f6MOgKVy35bayz9LvSRMU3GK5UyJL6oqlXZYOLkzk3KBfVWf0YlWfLTnsBq0UxcbDpTcFy3z~ogdcS4mE4K9G1QpA8ZXn6A-6CeGqR7Nd63V9voq2-dxBw6BD~GGXzwboGLKx27XaX57EN3k9bw82o7yzmXiryVWa4HUJsOZPt8wMbEY58TP4WeBVrMe0W~q5w51EaMvWZIL7pKSKweN4J-2uM1f6nRVaotUx7NacbHxXDD2rmUkYsyt2TBpzEWcksrZwleYvMExuJR2DqLOjjWo8gmr3QbnIc0XQEITg5uVYuPgF-dKSwiQ3IAwp1HVgF7rGDFNoepGSVeSvXEmqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Sheriffs, family advocates and senators emphasized that ending the fentanyl crisis requires sustained funding for interdiction task forces, widely available naloxone and expanded prevention and recovery services.

Sheriff Don Barnes, representing the Major County Sheriffs of America, told senators his agency seized large quantities of fentanyl and urged Congress to reauthorize and increase funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDA) program. He said HIDA funding had remained static for a decade and that the HIDA Enhancement Act would reauthorize the program at $333 million annually. \"HIDA funding has been stagnant, stale for the last 10 years,\" Barnes said, adding local task forces rely on HIDA as partial offsets to local contributions.

Witnesses and senators also discussed a temporary federal grant freeze and the reassignment of federal law-enforcement personnel away from drug investigations. Several senators — including Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse — warned that diverting FBI, DEA and other agents to different priorities could weaken long-term investigations into trafficking networks. Dr. Cecilia Farfan Mendez said diverting resources from multi-agency task forces undermines complex investigations that require international cooperation.

Family organizations asked for federal support for prevention work: Jaime Puerta described VOID's 22‑minute documentary, Dead on Arrival, used in junior high and high schools, and said community groups lack grant funding. Noring and Puerta urged more public education campaigns, school naloxone availability and school-based prevention programs. Emergency clinicians testified about naloxone's life-saving role: Dr. Tom Westlake recounted reviving a patient with Narcan during a shift and witnesses said deputies carrying naloxone have saved hundreds of lives locally.

Ending: Senators on both sides expressed support for reauthorizing and boosting HIDA funding, clarifying grant rules and expanding prevention grants and naloxone availability; they said funding decisions would be part of upcoming legislative and appropriations work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The Poisoning of America: Fentanyl, its Analogues, and the Need for Permanent Class Scheduling ","oneSentenceSummary","Major County Sheriffs and family advocates told the Judiciary Committee that law enforcement and prevention programs need more stable funding, including reauthorizing and increasing HIDA funding, expanding naloxone availability and supporting school-based education and community grants.","taxTitle","Judiciary: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1997,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6346230,"Experts Tell Judiciary Committee U.S. Drug Supply Involves China Precursors and Mexican Cartels; Cooperation With Mexico Urged",8076,2954000,11030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a&start=2954&end=11030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a/thumbnail_2954000.jpg","/articles/6346230/Experts-Tell-Judiciary-Committee-US-Drug-Supply-Involves-China-Precursors-and-Mexican-Cartels-Cooperation-With-Mexico-Urged","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346230-c6ddb07a33b4f8081495b8f12a6081f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155194&Signature=BFLEQrJFVbu4egbX0qmYh~NVo-SGEVFNtOM~Dtc6~ADlUPOjQOjCKv8XKFLcfhUqgU8O~p5Rwt8pJDvWhq9yjHrRzBhyW6F9CyA1uaRNMbKVf0rrP~TgzVX~fBWlpX7Rm1wteEmUlj8qUV4oXQQ4BWR2Oo9RnUYoP3SQKdCQDcjYHE~FVf23yRx6qpkeBisKpfmS8v9WlTNzgKUlQNLR6DGEzLvDZn2nerYatjot~SXmwBbH2pNt7f4AC~ACPZDxosKz6el5pRbN-nQEO1IWP~SkKuaVW~bQoLH7aziZA65osEbClfSMgZmOJwpAuiAA9MTmwAdFzXKHFYv6Po-hdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Witnesses and senators at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing debated how fentanyl reaches U.S. communities, focusing on precursor chemicals, cartel manufacturing in Mexico and firearms and money flows that sustain transnational criminal organizations.

Dr. Cecilia Farfan Mendez, an organized-crime and U.S.–Mexico security researcher, told the committee \"The United States can only be safer, stronger, and prosperous if its neighbors are afforded the same opportunity,\" and argued that addressing fentanyl requires cooperative, transnational policies that include curbing firearms and money flows into Mexico. She cited U.S. Sentencing Commission data indicating a large share of federal fentanyl trafficking sentences involve U.S. citizens but warned that supply-chain and firearms trafficking are closely linked to violent crime in Mexico.

Sheriff Don Barnes described seizures by his office and said Mexican cartels ‘‘have flooded our communities with deadly fentanyl,'' reporting his agency seized large quantities of powder and millions of pills over recent years. Senators and witnesses discussed the role of Chinese precursor chemicals in production, and several senators pressed for stepped-up bilateral cooperation, sanctions, and efforts to disrupt banks and money laundering networks that finance traffickers.

Senators questioned whether enforcement prioritization and recent reassignments of federal resources impede long-term investigations. Dr. Farfan warned that diverting resources from multi-agency task forces to other assignments can undermine the complex, time‑consuming investigations needed to dismantle trafficking networks.

Ending: Witnesses urged coordinated U.S.–Mexico enforcement and diplomatic measures, stronger action on precursor chemicals and arms trafficking, and transnational strategies to cut cartel revenues and capacity.","Scholars, law enforcement and senators discussed the international supply chain feeding fentanyl into the U.S., with testimony highlighting precursor chemicals traced to China, arms and money flows into Mexico, and the need for transnational cooperation and enforcement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6346233,"Parents and Senators Press Tech Firms, Seek Reforms After Teens’ Fentanyl Deaths",9431,1539000,10970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a&start=1539&end=10970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a/thumbnail_1539000.jpg","/articles/6346233/Parents-and-Senators-Press-Tech-Firms-Seek-Reforms-After-Teens-Fentanyl-Deaths","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346233-a36bbfd914753499d3358c9c752a2b1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155194&Signature=QzJ06AuvjbIVYUZMIa7XqfSoO-a4q~9BZr9LShauUc3HXp2WvsiVVChju5ESUtaiVkhvwSDo0Pk7CIfw5MdIE8zpLIdX145NZv1X0arju8Y9VOTbdsWr9UwfftoSa-Zk541Kw4vCRXTwionXTgaJc9WmcHqdXHcOIHKfOCFZrPK10HaY914cf6O~R32~jzb0WKLk~dGild9z236k0q0wREWlqSpRXpuzGOG36vNTa1UrQCUfQ9jK2yaSC75w292lmG1~bLU5EVzl6vTjVq-pnZ8R6EiKqj4TeY~nhRqubjMizB99m2oH7BTsHD0fiiH-CVl4djaJ~ecTK4ny7xCLJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents who lost children to fentanyl-laced pills told the Senate Judiciary Committee that social media platforms have become a principal avenue for dealers to reach teens, and they urged Congress to remove legal protections that they say shield companies from liability.

Bridget Noring, founder of the Devin J. Noring Foundation, told senators her 19-year-old son died after buying a counterfeit pill over Snapchat. \"If someone opened a brick and mortar store and sold these drugs to our children out of that store, we would be held accountable,\" Noring said. \"Why do the same rules not apply to social media?\"

Ranking Member Dick Durbin and other senators referenced bipartisan bills the Judiciary Committee advanced previously that would impose obligations on platforms and reduce immunity under section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Durbin and Senator Amy Klobuchar urged passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (COSA) and related measures. Senator Ted Cruz and others framed legislation that would allow civil suits by victim families — proposals stakeholders described during the hearing as the Cooper Davis and Devin Noring Act and other accountability measures.

Witnesses described litigation already under way. Jaime Puerta said a California trial judge allowed a product-design-based lawsuit against Snapchat to proceed and that appellate review favored allowing discovery. \"So right now, we are in discovery,\" Puerta said, adding that no similar case against a major platform had progressed as far.

Senators also discussed platform practices: parents testified that reports of illicit activity often produced automated responses or account takedowns that dealers quickly replaced by using burner phones, device changes or new accounts. Lawmakers repeatedly urged reforms that would make platforms more proactive in disrupting dealer networks, require safer-by-design features for young users, and give parents stronger legal remedies.

Ending: Committee members from both parties said they would pursue legislative and oversight options, including COSA, targeted liability reforms and continued scrutiny of platform practices.","Parents who lost sons to fentanyl told the Senate Judiciary Committee social media platforms facilitate illicit pill sales; senators and witnesses urged reforms including the Kids Online Safety Act and legislation to allow families to sue platforms.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6346237,"Senate Judiciary Hearing: Witnesses Urge Congress to Make Fentanyl-Related-Substance Scheduling Permanent",1510,1410000,2920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a&start=1410&end=2920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247225-8f7ba6a3d43c8e8831b8e04530b9991a/thumbnail_1410000.jpg","/articles/6346237/Senate-Judiciary-Hearing-Witnesses-Urge-Congress-to-Make-Fentanyl-Related-Substance-Scheduling-Permanent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346237-7c2d6799dfab2b4508e8b1434070f009/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155194&Signature=aIUcdzBQZXcRSTWzTvpi1oCILYEpBM2d0Y7XDMGaBmrca3VLOMLFtddKrTAsgwEC1op8gTj7cdWhdFrZ8hKjmrZHG~6rYhIGGIRRiDOyDkbBbzH8qAAlCcurgKDiYaseJhLgKYP5SPRBm~DM83rDvikgGyyYuMCZ6W7~k0exZvAZsUMYXn6H6GN71CJhhFlYwPX7oyID5u3jI9JwVVOq7~9arZKnxPquYMs0Apjf3zJp4lskLxYGzCqBsw9EEaro1f3JnzJbLq~Rsc72s81pCVaAzuVHIaOmNNbZQz6kL~lOvJbAfXPpNU0gPPKXWfUZROg71ijDEfrdvjffYJTsxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Judiciary Committee members and witnesses at a hearing on fentanyl said Congress should permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act to stop drug manufacturers from creating new, lethal analogs.

The push for permanent class scheduling was led in testimony and remarks by family members who lost children to illicit fentanyl, emergency physicians who helped draft FRS scheduling language and law enforcement officials. Chairman Chuck Grassley told the committee, \"It's time to make this temporary scheduling permanent so that the drug cartels do not have the opportunity to flood our country with even deadlier versions of fentanyl.\"

The argument for permanent scheduling centers on prevention: Dr. Tom Westlake, an emergency physician who described himself as the architect of Wisconsin's FRS law, said class scheduling removes the incentive for legal chemical manufacturers to create novel fentanyl analogs. \"FRS scheduling does not address illicit fentanyl. It was never designed to do so,\" Westlake said. \"It only removed the incentive for legal chemical companies to create new FRSs, thus stopping them from ever existing in the first place.\"

Family witnesses framed the proposal as urgent. Jaime Puerta, president and co-founder of Victims of Illicit Drugs (VOID), described his son’s death after taking a counterfeit blue pill that lab testing showed contained illicit fentanyl and urged Congress to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act. \"My son's death is just one of countless tragedies caused by this epidemic,\" Puerta said.

Senators on both sides of the aisle and witnesses cited statistics and technical details repeatedly during the hearing: multiple speakers referenced a lethal fentanyl dose as about 2 milligrams; panelists cited recent national overdose counts in the tens of thousands per year and described how small quantities of fentanyl can produce many lethal doses. Dr. Westlake noted the original FRS scheduling approach he promoted in Wisconsin and its adoption by the DEA as a temporary federal policy, and told senators that making the approach permanent would close a regulatory loophole.

Testimony also addressed concerns raised about the impact of class scheduling on research. Westlake and other witnesses said research accommodations have been negotiated and that agencies including NIH, HHS and FDA support the legislative language in the version of the bill before Congress. \"While theoretical, it has been addressed with stakeholder input and is supported by the very agencies and organizations representing academic scientific research,\" Westlake said.

No committee vote on the HALT Fentanyl Act occurred during the hearing. Senators and witnesses urged rapid action: Grassley said the temporary scheduling was set to expire and that Congress must \"get this done.\" The hearing included requests for complementary measures — border enforcement, interdiction, and treatment expansion — but witnesses characterized permanent FRS scheduling as a direct, narrowly targeted policy fix that would prevent some classes of deadly substances from ever reaching markets.

Ending: Committee members signaled bipartisan support for legislation on class scheduling while noting it is only one of multiple steps they said are necessary to address the broader fentanyl crisis.","At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, bereaved parents, physicians and law enforcement urged passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances (FRSs) as Schedule I, arguing class scheduling prevents new deadly analogs from entering the market.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sheriffs and Senators Press for More HIDA Funding, Naloxone and School Education as Part of Fentanyl Response

Experts Tell Judiciary Committee U.S. Drug Supply Involves China Precursors and Mexican Cartels; Cooperation With Mexico Urged

Parents and Senators Press Tech Firms, Seek Reforms After Teens’ Fentanyl Deaths

Senate Judiciary Hearing: Witnesses Urge Congress to Make Fentanyl-Related-Substance Scheduling Permanent