Press Releases

WASHINGTON, February 9, 2022 — During remarks on the House floor Tuesday evening, U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04) said it’s time for Democrats to “wake up” and help address America’s growing fentanyl crisis.

“Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that's 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It's created with chemicals shipped from China to Mexico; it's trafficked across our southern border,” Johnson said. “Its potency means the smallest amount—just enough to fit on the tip of a pencil—is considered a lethal dose. And now it's fueling one of the worst drug epidemics in American history.”

“It's time for the Democrats in charge here to wake up,” Johnson concluded. “To help address this problem, we must take immediate steps. We have to secure our border, we have to prosecute criminals again, and we have to work with localities to prevent drug abuse rather than accommodate it.”

Click for video of the Congressman’s remarks or read his full remarks below:

“Mr. Speaker, illegal drug overdoses recently became the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. The leading cause of death.

“Today in America, illegal drug overdoses are killing more people in this age demographic than car accidents, than cancer, and more than COVID. In my home state of Louisiana alone, opioid deaths increased in 2021 by 40% in one year, mostly driven by an increase in illicit fentanyl.

“What's fentanyl?

“Fentanyl is this synthetic opioid that's 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It's created with chemicals shipped from China to Mexico; it's trafficked across our southern border.

“Its potency means the smallest amount—just enough to fit on the tip of a pencil—is considered a lethal dose. And now it's fueling one of the worst drug epidemics in American history.

“The Biden Administration's response has been nothing. Passivity.

“They've been passive about securing our border — the entry point for all these drugs coming into our communities.

“They've been passive about prosecuting drug offenders — many Democrat-led jurisdictions are lowering felony offenses to misdemeanors.

“They've been passive about preventing drug abuse — the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan even includes a provision to distribute drug paraphernalia at taxpayers’ expense.

“Fentanyl deaths are certain to increase unless we act with the same resolve that we have used to attack other less deadly threats.

“And if the Biden Administration was serious about addressing this crisis, they'd start by securing our turnstile at the southern border.

“It's time for the Democrats in charge here to wake up. To help address this problem, we must take immediate steps. We have to secure our border, we have to prosecute criminals again, and we have to work with localities to prevent drug abuse rather than accommodate it.”

Representatives Morgan Griffith (VA), Scott Franklin (FL), Tim Burchett (TN), Debbie Lesko (AZ), Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Doug LaMalfa (CA), Glenn Grothman (WI), Pete Stauber (MN), Brian Babin (TX), Buddy Carter (GA), Andrew Clyde (GA), and John Rose (TN) joined Representative Johnson to deliver remarks on the House floor.