U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York wants federal sanctions against Chinese companies that manufacture fentanyl in an effort to dismantle Long Island’s opioid trade.
The Fentanyl Sanctions Act sets aside money to identify the drug manufacturers in China and block them from access to U.S. markets and visas.
Schumer says they need to go past Long Island’s shores to target the roots of the opioid crisis.
“Fentanyl is the most deadly drug we’ve come across. It is manufactured in China. Our Fentanyl Sanctions Act has found a way to reach into China and stop the manufacturers there from sending the drug here.”
Schumer says similar legislation has worked to dismantle another synthetic drug trade with origins in China.
The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support, but still needs approval from the House.
