119-hres359

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 359 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 359

Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 
 2025, including increasing individual and public awareness of the 
 impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young 
 people.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 29, 2025

Ms. Pettersen (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Trahan, Mrs. McClain, 
Mr. Neguse, and Mr. McDowell) submitted the following resolution; which 
 was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition 
 to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently 
 determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 
 2025, including increasing individual and public awareness of the 
 impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young 
 people.

Whereas drug traffickers are mass-producing fake or counterfeit pills and 
 falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills to deceive the 
 people of the United States;
Whereas many fake or counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription name-
 brand opioids, stimulants, or anxiety medications;
Whereas drug traffickers are using fake or counterfeit pills to exploit 
 prescription drug misuse and the opioid crisis;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (referred to in this preamble as the 
 ``DEA'') has observed a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills 
 containing not less than 2 milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a 
 deadly dose;
Whereas 5 out of every 10 pills with fentanyl tested by the DEA contain a 
 potentially lethal dose;
Whereas counterfeit pills may also contain fentanyl-related substances and 
 methamphetamine;
Whereas the number of counterfeit pills with fentanyl seized by law enforcement 
 agencies in 2024 was 60,000,000;
Whereas, including the nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder seized in 2024, 
 total fentanyl seizures are equivalent to more than 377,000,000 lethal 
 doses of fentanyl;
Whereas fake or counterfeit pills have been identified in all 50 States and the 
 District of Columbia;
Whereas illicit fentanyl has also been detected in illicit drugs such as heroin, 
 cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy and molly), and methamphetamine;
Whereas, for the 12-month period ending in October 2024, more than 84,000 
 individuals in the United States died of drug-induced deaths, and more 
 than 58,000 of those deaths involved illicit fentanyl and other 
 synthetic opioids;
Whereas, over the last 20 years, drug-induced deaths among individuals 15 to 35 
 years of age have increased 5-fold, largely driven by the increase in 
 illicit fentanyl drugs;
Whereas, for the 12-month period ending in June 2023, illicit fentanyl was 
 involved in more deaths of individuals 55 years of age and under than 
 any single other cause;
Whereas fake counterfeit pills are easily accessible and often sold on social 
 media and e-commerce platforms, making them accessible to teens and 
 youth;
Whereas illicit fentanyl is involved in more deaths of youths than all other 
 drug types combined;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, drug overdose and poisoning deaths for 
 individuals 14 to 18 years of age increased by 128 percent, a rate of 
 increase which was 77 percentage points higher than the national rate 
 and higher than the rate for any other 5-year age group;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, the number of deaths involving illicit fentanyl 
 in drug overdose and poisoning deaths for individuals 14 to 18 years of 
 age increased by 236 percent, a rate of increase which was 141 
 percentage points higher than the national rate and higher than the rate 
 for any other 5-year age group over the age of 15;
Whereas, since 2021, the annual number of drug overdose and poisoning deaths and 
 those deaths involving illicit fentanyl in drug overdose and poisoning 
 deaths for individuals 14 to 18 years of age has increased;
Whereas, in the 12-month period ending June 2023, illicit fentanyl was involved 
 in 81 percent of drug-induced deaths of individuals between 14 and 23 
 years of age, compared to 70 percent of drug-induced deaths of 
 individuals of all ages;
Whereas, in 2024, only 65 percent of youth and 55 percent of teens in the United 
 States were aware that fentanyl is being used to create counterfeit 
 pills;
Whereas, in 2024, only 55 percent of youth and 50 percent of teens considered 
 themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl; and
Whereas, in 2024, there were 51,010 reported overdose deaths involving illicit 
 fentanyl and other synthetic opioids: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) supports the recognition and goals of National Fentanyl 
 Awareness Day, which include increasing individual and public 
 awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills 
 on families and young people;

    (2) applauds the work of Federal, State, and local law 
 enforcement agencies that work to combat the proliferation of 
 counterfeit pills;

    (3) encourages the use of existing authorities to 
 proactively stop and prevent the spread of illicit counterfeit 
 pills; and

    (4) supports the designation of ``National Fentanyl 
 Awareness Day''.
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