Congress of the United States ‘Washington, DE 20515 December 10, 2021 The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas Secretary of Homeland Security United States Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Ir. Ave, SE. ‘Washington, DC 20528 Dear Secretary Mayorkas, ‘We write 1 you today as members of the House GOP Doctors Caucus to express our grave concer regarding the fentanyl drug ersis that has engulfed our nation as a result of the erisis at ‘our Southern Border. Counterfeit fentanyl and fentanyl-laced poisons are flooding across our border in record numbers t is our duty and obligation to get this crisis under control as matters ‘of national security and publi health ‘Thus far, the Administration has offered stale talking points and rehearsed political gestures but thas yet to administra clear and targeted directive to handle the Biden Border Csi. sno secret that our adversaries are taking advantage of President Biden's open border policies. We know that Mexican drug cartels are working with Chinese teansnational criminals to rapidly produce fentanyl in record numbers to poison Americans. In fet, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently issued its first public safety alert in six years warning the publie about fentanyl- laced pills that are hitting the streets in record numbers. Along some parts of th border, federal ‘agents have reported a 4,000 percent inerease in fentanyl seizures over the last three year. Importanily, the DEA reports that over 80 percent of fentanyl that enters the United States is smuggled across our Southern Border. In October 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized roughly 1,000 pounds of fentanyl ~ enough to kill 236,775,024 Americans, Fentanyl seizures are up 53 percent ftom FY 2020. White these seizures area great testament to the exceptional work that our brave CBP officers are doing to protect our communities, the reality is that we have no way of knowing how much fentanyl and other illicit drugs get across our border. Drug cartels are taking full advantage of ‘our porous Southern Border, aking in billions in profits while our communities are suffering ‘rom the worst opioid crisis in history. ‘We have spoken to law enforcement officers from across the country who tell us tha the price of | fentanyl on the street has been cut in half compared to FY 2020, That data would suggest that hile fentanyl seizures are up, supply is rapidly outpacing demand, Just this year, forthe first ime in our nation’s history, the United States surpassed 100,000 drug ‘overdose deaths in a 12-month period ~ 30 percent increase from FY 2020. The New York ‘Times reported that, “The rise in deaths — the vast majority caused by synthetic opioids — was fucled by widespread use of fentanyl, a fast-acting drug that is 100 times as powerful as‘moxphine.” While some drug users may seek out fentanyl, the vast majority are dying without knowing what they ace taking ‘That milestone isa devastating tragedy and should bea call to action, as 64 percent of all drug ‘overdose deaths were due to illcit fentanyl; 80 percent of which enters the United States throngh ‘oue Southern Border, ‘This cruel, unrestricted action against the American people isthe dreet result ofa disastrous {migration policy, and this Administration refuses to do anything about it. (ur nation’s so-called border czar, Vice President Kamala Haris, has been derelict inher duty to adress the erisis. The American people are equally dismayed, as evident by the Viee President's approval number on the issue ofthe border and immigration, which stands at an abysmal 23 percent. We owe it to the American people ta stop this crisis that has been caused by President Biden's open border policies. We can and we must intervene forthe sake of our nation. Enforcing our rule of law is within our contro, an President Biden must act. Is clear to us as health care professionals and lawmakers that to manage the fentanyl drug crisis, ou first priority must be to take control of our border. ‘The primary roe ofthe federal government is to ensure the safety ofits people. The Administation cannot flfil this obligation without securing the Southern Border. ‘With that in mind, we ask for your prompt response tothe following questions: 1), What is the Administration's plan to address the fentanyl crisis at our Southern Border? 2) What isthe Administration’ strategy to educate the public about the fentanyl-lnced drugs that pose a serious threat to our communities? Are there any public health measures being ‘aken (alert the American people? 3) What isthe Administration doing to bolster support for CBP as drug seizures and ilegal migrant apprehensions are at record highs? 4) On February 18, 2022, the emergency class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances is set to expire. Given the gravity of the horder and drug ctsis, will the ‘Administration commit to supporting efforts to make the emergeney class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl related substances permanent? ‘We look forward to celebrating the holiday season, and we must remember all the families who have lost loved ones due to this tragic fentanyl epidemic and recognize our roe in curbing the national security and public health crises at our Southern Border. ‘Thank you for your atention to this critical matter, and we look forward to your ti Sincerely, oe Haun. Rep. Gfegory F. Murphy, M.D. idy Harris, M.D. ‘Member of Congress Member of Congressht beg Fut R Abi. ac C. Burgess, Brad R: Wenstnp, DP Member of Congress Member of Congress Dian Featiger Pham? re ‘Van Drew, DMD. ‘Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress hes § ckson, M.D. Member of Congress