Sen. Brown introducing bill aimed at stopping flow of fentanyl into U.S.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, DOhio, is introducing a bill that he said would help border patrol agents stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

Much of the fentanyl entering the United States is coming from China. While some of that supply is coming directly into the country, it is also being shipped into Mexico before making its way north.

Brown said on a conference call with reporters his bill would provide resources directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection “so agents can scan shipments for fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic substances at the border to stop these drugs from getting into our neighborhoods.”

The senator said the legislation was developed in consultation with CBP with their advice on the best way to cut down on fentanyl entering the country.

CBP has had success with detecting these drugs with “hightech” chemical screening devices, but Brown said the agency does not have enough screening equipment to cover all ports of entry or enough scientists and lab support to interpret the results.

The bill would authorize $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices and lab equipment as well as facilities and personal for “24/7 lab support.”

“It gives the agency more of the tools we already know are working,” Brown said. “Fentanyl has taken far too many lives in our state. This is one concrete step we can take right now to stop it from entering our communities.”

The bipartisan bill is also sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Florida; Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts; and Shelley Moore Capito, RWest Virginia.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, there were more positive lab tests for fentanyl in Ohio than any other state in 2015. There were 1,155 fentanylrelated overdoses that year in Ohio.

Brown’s bill is unrelated to the STOP Act recently introduced by Rob Portman, R-Ohio, that would require shipments from foreign countries through the postal system to provide electronic advance data before it crosses the U.S. border.

“We’re looking for any tools we can get,” Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Rick Minerd said. “Any support we can get from our legislators, we welcome that.”

Brown