H.R. 9937: No Leniency for Fentanyl Dealers Act

This bill would change federal drug laws to impose much stricter penalties for trafficking fentanyl and certain fentanyl-like substances, and it would also direct the Postal Service to do more to detect fentanyl shipments coming into the country.

Changes to fentanyl trafficking penalties

The bill amends existing drug statutes so that smaller amounts of fentanyl can trigger the highest federal trafficking penalties than under current law. In practical terms, it lowers the quantity thresholds used to determine which penalty tier applies for fentanyl offenses.

• Under the Controlled Substances Act, the bill reduces the fentanyl quantities tied to the most serious trafficking penalties.
• It makes similar changes in the law covering import and export offenses.
• It also clarifies that these rules apply to both scheduled and unscheduled fentanyl analogues, meaning the coverage is intended to include fentanyl-like substances even if they are not separately listed in federal drug schedules.

Sentencing guidelines

The bill tells the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and update the federal sentencing guidelines so they line up with the new penalty thresholds. It directs the Commission to do this quickly, within 120 days if possible, and to make any related conforming changes needed to keep the guidelines consistent with the new law.

Postal Service screening and interdiction

The bill also focuses on stopping fentanyl and other illegal synthetic drugs from entering the U.S. through the mail or express shipping services.

• The Postmaster General would be required to increase the number of chemical screening devices available to the Postal Service.
• Those devices would be used to help identify fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics or psychoactive substances being illegally imported.
• The Postal Service would also need to have enough trained personnel, including scientists, available during all operating hours to interpret the screening data.

Funding

The bill authorizes $9 million for the Postal Service to support screening devices, staffing, and related efforts to prevent and intercept unlawful imports of fentanyl and similar substances.

Relevant Companies

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