Rep. Lori Trahan introduces bill to designate April 29 as National Fentanyl Awareness Day

Rep. Lori Trahan, a Massachusetts congresswoman who co-chairs a bipartisan mental health and substance use disorder task force, joined lawmakers in introducing legislation to recognize April 29 as National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

Trahan said the fentanyl-driven overdose crisis "is devastating families and communities in every corner of our country." She said the proposed observance would "not only honor the lives lost, but also shine a light on the urgent need for action," framing the bill as a vehicle to raise awareness and push for expanded prevention, enforcement, treatment and recovery efforts.

Lawmakers backing the resolution cited law enforcement figures showing that 47 million counterfeit pills were seized in 2025, which supporters described as the equivalent of more than 369 million potentially lethal doses. The statistic was presented by sponsors to underline the scale of the illicit supply and the urgency of coordinated responses.

Members of Congress supporting the resolution shared personal testimony to reinforce the policy push. Representative Peterson discussed her mother's long battle with opioid addiction and recovery, while Representative McDowell reflected on losing his brother to fentanyl at age 20.

Trahan pointed to earlier bipartisan initiatives she has led on addiction treatment, mental health services and suicide prevention, including legislation to expand addiction training for opioid prescribers and measures to protect federal mental health and recovery programs.

The resolution was introduced; further legislative steps or votes were not specified in the transcript.