March 11, 2025, Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania) introduced the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025 to combat the scourge of fentanyl killing America’s communities. Joining Senator McCormick in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral bill are Senators Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), and John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania). In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), Jake Auchincloss (D-Massachusetts), John Moolenaar (R-Michigan), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois), Neal Dunn (R-Florida), Ro Khanna (D-California), Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota), and Ritchie Torres (D-New York). The United States is experiencing a drug abuse crisis driven by criminal cartels who push these drugs into our communities, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. This legislation would improve federal coordination to combat this terrible crisis, go after trafficking organizations, respond to China’s central role in producing fentanyl precursors and laundering drug money, and save American lives.
“Fentanyl killed nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year and over 200 Americans each day,” Senator McCormick said. “This legislation would empower our federal government to coordinate all the tools at its disposal to combat the trafficking of lethal fentanyl that is ruining American families. I’ve heard from too many families who have lost their loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, I refuse to allow it to continue.”
An investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party found that the federal government lacks a centralized coordination mechanism to effectively crack down on fentanyl trafficking. Improving federal coordination is critical to combatting fentanyl. This legislation establishes a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics, which will be composed of representatives from the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and any other agency deemed appropriate. Together these agencies can conduct joint operations, disrupt trafficking networks, enforce sanctions, and address the central role of the People’s Republic of China in the opioid crisis.
“Fentanyl continues to claim lives every day and devastate communities in Delaware and across the country,” said Senator Coons. “We know China is contributing to this crisis, and I’m proud to support introduction of this bipartisan bill to determine how agencies can best coordinate to eliminate redundancies, maintain safeguards, and make our law enforcement efforts to address China’s role as effective as possible.”
“The flood of fentanyl into our nation is truly devastating American families and communities,” Senator Britt said. “I am deeply grateful for this effort to develop a coordinated federal task force to combat the illicit fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics trafficked by bad actors. During my time in the Senate, I have sat across from far too many grieving parents affected by our nation’s opioid epidemic. Americans are counting on Congress to act now and make our nation safe again.”
“Fentanyl claims a Pennsylvanian’s life nearly every two hours — it’s a crisis that demands a crisis-level response,” said Senator Fetterman. “This bill creates a task force of experts with real experience busting up international criminal rings to disrupt supply chains and pursue the traffickers exploiting our communities. As I’ve said before, I’ll work with anyone to get this poison off our streets, and this task force is a step in that direction.”
“The CCP is the leading force behind the fentanyl crisis, and the United States is failing to respond while they profit from the loss of American lives. This Joint Taskforce will pool resources across the federal government and respond to this crisis with everything from sanctions to joint drug raids to keep this deadly substance out of our communities,” said Representative Newhouse. “This task force will help President Trump and his administration accomplish his goal of stopping the flow of fentanyl from China across our northern and southern borders.”
“The U.S. government must take decisive action at every link of the illegal synthetic narcotic supply chain, beginning with China,” said Representative Auchincloss. “This Task Force would provide a coordinated framework to hold bad actors accountable for the state-sanctioned poisoning of Americans.”
“The Chinese Communist Party has deliberately funded the production of fentanyl chemicals, which are sold to cartels and trafficked into the U.S., killing Americans,” said Representative Moolenaar. “This legislation builds on the bipartisan Select Committee’s report from last year and will unite government agencies to disrupt trafficking networks and impose sanctions on those poisoning our country. This is a critical step to hold China accountable and protect American lives from this deadly crisis.”
“The bipartisan Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act is critical to tackling the deadly flow of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs that are devastating communities across our country,” said Representative Krishnamoorthi. “By strengthening coordination between law enforcement and intelligence agencies, this bipartisan bill will help us crack down on transnational criminal networks and protect American families from this ongoing crisis.”
“For far too long, the Chinese Communist Party has targeted American civilians by fueling our country’s opioid epidemic,” said Representative Dunn. “We must take swift action to protect the American public and hold the CCP accountable for brazenly pushing illicit narcotics in the United States. I am proud to be part of this unified response to CCP aggression and look forward to playing an active role in passing this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill.”
“Fentanyl has taken too many loved ones and devastated communities across America. I am proud to support the bipartisan Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act to ensure there is interagency coordination to address the CCP’s role in international trafficking networks and keep Americans safe,” said Representative Khanna.
“China has been flooding our nation with fentanyl for years, profiting on the destruction and poisoning of American lives,” said Representative Johnson. “Getting tough on China includes cracking down on their money-making fentanyl scheme, which is devastating American families. I’m proud to support this legislation to help make America safe and healthy again.”
“The fentanyl crisis has taken too many lives, and we need a strong, coordinated federal response to disrupt the trafficking networks fueling this epidemic. The Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act will ensure federal agencies are working together to disrupt trafficking networks, hold bad actors accountable, and take decisive action to address the role of the PRC in fueling this epidemic,” said Representative Torres. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort and remain committed to advancing policies that protect public health and safety.”
The mission of the task force is to streamline interagency collaboration, enhance legal enforcement, and report regularly to Congress. Together, the federal government can combine forces to restructure its response to the fentanyl crisis in this country.
Contact: Meghan Rodgers, meghan_rodgers@mccormick.senate.gov
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