WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Neal Dunn (Florida-02) introduced the International Protection from PRC Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Act to fight the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) role in America’s opioid epidemic. The bill would impose civil penalties on CCP-affiliated shippers – including any vessel owned, operated, or leased by a PRC entity - that are involved in trafficking materials used in the production of fentanyl to the United States. This legislation is part of a package of three bipartisan bills originating from the Select Committee on Communist China’s Fentanyl Working Group to stop the CCP from fueling America’s opioid epidemic.

“For far too long, the CCP has been targeting American civilians by intentionally fueling our country’s opioid epidemic to undermine our nation’s health,” said Congressman Dunn. “We must take swift action to protect the American public and hold the CCP accountable for their brazen and unacceptable practices. I am proud to lead this bipartisan response to CCP aggression and stop the flow of dangerous narcotics into American communities.”

Background:

Earlier this year, the Select Committee on Communist China released an exhaustive report implicating entities connected to the Communist Party in a scheme to export fentanyl precursors to American shores. This legislation aims to combat fentanyl trafficking by imposing civil penalties on CCP- shippers connected to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that fail to implement ‘know your customer’ protocols and other safeguards against the production and export of fentanyl precursors.

Specifically, this legislation would:

• Require PRC shippers involved in the fentanyl trade to meet USG-defined standards for declaring fentanyl precursors.

• Establish a civil penalty for PRC cargo vessels deemed non-compliant when attempting to enter U.S. ports.

• Require the President to send a report to Congress outlining the compliance status, fines levied, and revenues collected.

• Allocate all fees taken from non-compliant Chinese vessels and use that money to fund anti-drug trafficking enforcement.

Read the full text of the bill here.