WASHINGTON – Today, on National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is reiterating his commitment to fighting fentanyl trafficking and keeping Arizona communities safe. He supported the Contraband Awareness Technology Catches Harmful (CATCH) Fentanyl Act, which would strengthen the inspection of vehicles and cargo at the southern border by requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to test new detection technologies at land ports of entry (POEs).
“We need every available tool to stop fentanyl from entering our communities, and that starts with improving border inspections and investing in smart, effective detection technology,” said Senator Gallego.
The CATCH Fentanyl Act would require CBP to analyze and test five new pieces of technology at land POEs to determine what types of technology could better scan for contraband, reduce wait times, and lower costs. The legislation was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
Senator Gallego has long championed efforts to combat fentanyl and drug trafficking. Earlier this year, he:
- Introduced the bipartisan Combating Cartels on Social Media Act to crack down on cartels recruiting teenagers online for smuggling and trafficking;
- Backed the bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act to address the use of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer increasingly mixed with fentanyl as a low-cost cutting agent; and
- Supported the bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, give law enforcement the tools they need to keep extremely lethal and dangerous drugs off our streets, and streamline scientific research on these substances.
Gallego also introduced the Buck Stops Here Act in the House to combat fentanyl money laundering.
4/29/25