New Bipartisan Bill Targets Fentanyl Crisis

A bipartisan coalition has introduced legislation to create a federal task force targeting fentanyl trafficking networks and holding China accountable for its alleged role in America’s deadliest drug crisis.

Key Insights

Rep. Dan Newhouse and Sen. Dave McCormick have introduced the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act to combat fentanyl trafficking.
The legislation would create a federal joint task force to enhance interagency collaboration and coordinate operations against trafficking networks.
The bill specifically targets China’s alleged role in the crisis, with lawmakers citing evidence that the Chinese Communist Party profits from fentanyl production.
Opioids such as fentanyl contributed heavily to the over 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2023.
The task force would coordinate federal resources for targeted sanctions, joint raids, and disruption of both international and domestic trafficking channels

Lawmakers Unite Across Party Lines to Combat Fentanyl

Representative Dan Newhouse has introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a federal joint task force specifically focused on combating the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. The bill, known as the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025, has garnered support from both Republican and Democratic representatives in the House. Senator Dave McCormick has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

The proposed task force would dramatically enhance interagency collaboration by pooling federal resources to implement sanctions and conduct joint operations targeting fentanyl trafficking networks. This coordinated approach aims to streamline current efforts that have been fragmented across multiple agencies, creating a more efficient federal response to the crisis. The legislation specifically addresses both international supply chains and domestic distribution networks, with particular attention to China’s alleged role in producing fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Federal task force to combat fentanyl crisis introduced by Newhouse#NBHAPIndustryNews https://t.co/u8RhZ20v3L

— National Behavioral Health Assoc. of Providers (@BHAP_us) March 13, 2025

China’s Alleged Role in America’s Fentanyl Epidemic

The legislation directly confronts evidence of China’s alleged role in fueling America’s fentanyl crisis. A U.S. House Select Committee report has identified the Chinese Communist Party as the primary source of precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl. These chemicals are reportedly often shipped to Mexican cartels who then smuggle the finished product across the southern border. The bipartisan bill aims to disrupt this supply chain at its source by enabling more effective sanctions and enforcement actions against Chinese entities involved in fentanyl production.

This legislation builds upon previous efforts to hold China accountable, including former President Donald Trump’s actions to impose tariffs on Chinese goods after accusing the nation of failing to control the flow of fentanyl into the United States. More recently, Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen introduced separate legislation to allow sanctions on Chinese entities involved in fentanyl trafficking.

Addressing America’s Drug Crisis

Over 107,000 overdose deaths were recorded in 2023, the majority linked to opioids like fentanyl, according to the CDC. Senator McCormick highlighted the devastating toll in his home state of Pennsylvania, where nearly 4,000 residents died from fentanyl last year. Nationwide, approximately 200 Americans are dying daily from fentanyl-related causes, McCormick said.

The proposed task force would include representatives from key federal agencies with responsibility for combating narcotics trafficking. These agencies would collaborate to enhance legal enforcement, conduct joint operations against trafficking networks, and ensure regular reporting to Congress on progress made. The legislation has garnered support from several representatives, including John Moolenaar, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Dusty Johnson, Ro Khana, Neal Dunn, Jake Auchincloss, and Richie Torres.