Rep. Claudia Tenney Introduces the DONT ACT Commends Administration’s Renewal of Public Health Emergency Declaration for the Opioid Epidemic

BINGHAMTON, New York, Jan. 25 -- Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New York, issued the following news release:

Today, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) held a press conference at her office in Binghamton, New York, to introduce her new bill, The Deterring Overseas Narcotics Transport (DONT) Act. This bill will combat the illegal importation of fentanyl into the United States from nations like China.

This legislation would require the U.S. Department of State to add countries that are identified as being a significant source of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, or fentanyl precursor chemicals (chemicals used to produce fentanyl) to its annual report on narcotics trafficking.

Fentanyl-producing countries--like China--that fail to cooperate with the U.S. on narcotics control programs and initiatives would lose access to bilateral foreign aid.

Any country identified as a significant source of illicit fentanyl would need to update their drug control laws to more closely resemble current U.S. drug control policy.

"As a member of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, I am committed to pushing forward bold policies that address the problem our country faces with drug addiction. Too many families across the country have been tragically impacted by the opioid epidemic. Fentanyl use, in particular, is continuing to rise sharply across all parts of our nation resulting in 20,000 deaths per year," said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. "The DONT ACT is a common-sense law that would help save the lives of thousands of Americans. It is more important now than ever to join together and fight back against this epidemic that tears families apart."

Rep. Tenney, a member of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, also announced her support of the Trump Administration's renewal of the Public Health Emergency Declaration for the opioid epidemic, which was set to expire on January 23, 2018. The Trump Administration extended the emergency declaration to April 23, 2018.

Additionally, Rep. Tenney announced that she is donating her salary from the second day of the government shutdown to the New Horizons Alcohol & Chemical Dependency Treatment Center.