Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Provide Drug Exposure Training, Resources to Help Law Enforcement Combat Fentanyl Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Congresswoman Chris Pappas (NH-1) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Overcoming Prevalent Inadequacies in Overdose Information Data Sets (OPIOIDS) Act which will assist law enforcement in collecting information on fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. This legislation will increase training for state and local law enforcement officers, update systems used for drug tracing, and provide federal grants for training and resources to stop secondary drug exposure to first responders.  

2 milligrams of fentanyl, equivalent to a few grains of salt, is a lethal dose. In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seized 4.7 million lethal doses of fentanyl, enough to kill every American.

“The fentanyl crisis is devastating families and communities across our nation, claiming lives at an alarming rate. Our law enforcement officers and first responders are on the front lines of this battle, and they need the right tools and resources to combat this epidemic effectively and keep themselves safe,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “The OPIOIDS Act is a critical step toward protecting our communities and saving lives. I urge my colleagues to stand together in this fight and support this effort to stop the spread of this deadly drug and keep our communities safe.”

“Fentanyl and synthetic opioids are highly dangerous, and pose unique threats to law enforcement and first responders who may experience secondary exposure when making arrests or providing medical care,” said Congressman Pappas. “Comprehensive training on how to deal with these substances, including how to prevent secondary exposure and the use of updated drug tracing systems, will help save lives and get these drugs off our streets. I’m glad to introduce legislation that would provide state and local enforcement with grant funds to cover the costs of these trainings without passing the burden onto our local departments.”

Summary:

• Allows the Attorney General to provide grants to states and local communities to improve data and surveillance related to opioid overdoses.
• Directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to local law enforcement agencies in communities with high rates of overdoses to:
  • Provide training to help officers better identify overdoses.
  • Upgrade essential systems for drug tracing and forensic laboratories.
  • Provide training to better trace criminals through the darknet.
• Directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy to collaborate with the National Forensic Laboratory Information System and DOJ to create national standards for the submission of data into the system.
• The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will be directed to develop uniform reporting standards for purity, formulation, and weight, to allow for better comparison across jurisdictions.
• The bill also removes the automatic approval of reprogramming requests for funds that are specifically appropriated in line with the National Drug Control Strategy and Budget.
• Requires the DEA to submit to Congress, as part of their annual report, the level of funding needed to effectively carry out the Fentanyl Signature Profiling Program.
• Additionally, this bill would allow existing COPS Grants to go toward providing training and resources for containment devices to prevent secondary exposure for first responders.

Read the bill text here.
 

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