Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, appeared before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs at a hearing entitled “Stopping the Flow of Fentanyl: Public Awareness and Legislative Solutions.” President Yoes testified in support of S. 1271, the “Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act,” which the FOP helped develop, would direct the resources of the U.S. government to target the fentanyl supply chain in several ways.

“As law enforcement officers, my members are on the front lines, and they know first-hand just how devastating this drug epidemic is in our communities,” Yoes said. “Our officers are not only working to keep drugs out of our neighborhoods, but they are also actively pursuing the dealers of this poison on our streets and online by arresting them and aiding their prosecution.”

The “FEND Off Fentanyl Act” would address the ongoing fentanyl crisis by requiring the Federal government to impose and enforce sanctions on criminal actors and organizations, increasing the likelihood that those who are engaged in the illicit fentanyl trade will be caught and prosecuted. We also support the use of the lawfully forfeited assets of these traffickers to further law enforcement efforts to combat these criminals.

“All the measures and tools proposed in S. 1271 will reduce the number of Americans who suffer and die from fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and other deadly and illicit opioids—and that should be our number one goal,” Yoes said. “We must reduce the loss of life through vigorous interdiction of the drug supply train, relentless pursuit of the dealers, cartels, and suppliers, greater availability of naloxone to law enforcement and emergency responders, as well as passing the ‘FEND Off Fentanyl Act.’”