Tester’s Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Included in Must-Pass Defense Bill

Senator’s FEND Off Fentanyl Act officially included in Senate NDAA package

As part of his continued efforts to secure America’s borders and combat the flow of fentanyl to Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today that his bipartisan Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act is officially included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the annual must-pass defense bill.

Tester’s FEND Off Fentanyl Act would impose economic sanctions on those engaged in the international trafficking of illicit fentanyl, precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, or other related opioids, and declare international trafficking of fentanyl as a national emergency.

“I’ve heard from folks in every corner of Montana about the devastating impact that fentanyl is having on our communities,” said Tester. “My top priority is keeping Montanans safe, which is why my bipartisan bill will finally declare the fentanyl crisis a national emergency and crack down on the Chinese criminal organizations and Mexican drug cartels that are trafficking illicit drugs across our borders. This is a big step toward getting it across the finish line and I won’t stop pushing until it is signed into law.”

In June, Tester’s bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act cleared another major hurdle when it passed out of the Senate Banking Committee.

Tester has consistently led the charge to combat fentanyl trafficking in Montana and secure our nation’s borders.

During a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Tester pressed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on combating Mexican drug cartels and providing law enforcement with additional resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.

Last month, Senator Tester introduced his bipartisan ANTI Drugs Act to increase funding for law enforcement to combat drug trafficking. In March, Tester continued his push to secure the southern border and stop fentanyl trafficking by calling on the Biden Administration to make additional investments in technology to assist law enforcement in nonintrusive inspections at points of entry. As the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Tester passed critical provisions in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act and the 2023 government funding bill to fund law enforcement and stop fentanyl trafficking along the southern border.