House to consider bipartisan bill to crack down on Chinese opioid manufacturers

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Mayorkas says China 'bears responsibility' for role in fentanyl crisis

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas spoke at the Aspen Security Forum about the fentanyl crisis

The House will consider several pieces of legislation as early as Tuesday under a suspension of the rules, including a bipartisan bill that could crack down on Chinese manufacturers of synthetic opioids.

Republican Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky authored the bill – the "Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2023" – which would impose sanctions on Chinese opioid producers and "opioid precursors," as the fentanyl crisis continues to climb.

Precursor chemicals are used for legal opioid medications but can be diverted for illicit fentanyl and heroin production.

China is the source of much of the fentanyl trafficked into the U.S. (iStock/Fox News)

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"The Chinese Communist Party plays a prominent role in every step of the fentanyl crisis from producing precursor chemicals to transferring expertise to laundering cartel profits who illegally traffic it into the United States," Barr told Fox News Digital Tuesday.

Barr said he expects broad support for the bill on the House floor.

Rep. Andy Barr speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 25, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

"The Biden administration has abandoned control of the southern border and I am proud to lead this effort to defend our national security," he said.

According to the bill, first introduced in May, it updates the definition of a "foreign opioid trafficker" in the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to include specific Chinese entities and government officials who don’t take steps to prevent so-called "opioid trafficking."

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The U.S. has previously called on both Mexico and China to link arms against the crisis.

One of Barr's co-sponsors of the bill, Republican Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, told Fox News Digital the Chinese Communist Party is "just as culpable" as the Mexican cartels and the Biden administration's open border policy. 

"Make no mistake – there’s no fentanyl crisis without the CCP. Passage of this bipartisan bill is a critical step in protecting Americans from this deadly substance, and I’m hopeful we’ll get it across the finish line," Luetkemeyer said. 

Fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, is often made by Mexican cartels in labs with precursors shipped from China. A small amount of fentanyl can lead to a deadly overdose, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has warned, with thousands of fentanyl-related deaths reported each year.

Arizona Border Patrol agents arrested two U.S. citizens for smuggling illegal immigrants and drugs. (.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector)

Barr’s bill aims to "hold Chinese officials accountable for the spread of illicit fentanyl," in line with other congressional members who have been calling for a similar crackdown on China’s role in black market opioid production.

Last week, Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., floated the idea of including an amendment to the much-anticipated military defense bill that would sanction China over its illicit fentanyl production.

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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also made remarks last week that the Chinese Communist government "bears responsibility" for cleaning up fentanyl in the U.S.

And the Department of Justice brought conspiracy charges against three Chinese chemical manufacturing companies suspected of manufacturing and distributing fentanyl in the U.S. in June.

Democratic Reps. Chris Pappas, Pat Ryan and Morgan McGarvey are co-sponsoring the bill, alongside Republican Reps. Luetkemeyer, Gregory Murphy, Mike Lawler, Beth Van Duyne, Anthony D'Esposito and Zach Nunn.