WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-RI) introduced the Contraband Awareness Technology Catches Harmful (CATCH) Fentanyl Act, which would enable the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better combat fentanyl trafficking at border ports of entry. Senator Cornyn (R-TX) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
The CATCH Fentanyl Act would create a pilot program using next-generation technology at border checkpoints to stop drug trafficking and make commercial trade more efficient. The bill enables the DHS and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to use Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology to screen and detect drugs, currency, illegal contraband, as well as smuggled or trafficked individuals into the United States.
“This common-sense legislation gives CBP expanded use of technology to detect and stop narcotraffickers while streamlining legitimate commercial transit at border ports of entry,” said Congressman Higgins. “We must use our Congressional authority to protect communities across America from this devastating drug. I thank Congressman Magaziner for joining me on this critical legislation, and Senator Cornyn for introducing companion legislation in the Senate.”
“Fentanyl has claimed too many lives, and we need to take stronger action to stop the flow of fentanyl into our country,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This bill will direct the Department of Homeland Security to deploy in cutting-edge technology to detect and stop fentanyl and other dangerous substances at border crossings—while keeping legal trade moving smoothly. This is a smart, necessary, and bipartisan step to save lives.”
“The Biden-Harris administration’s porous border created a drug crisis of epic proportions that we are working around the clock to address and mitigate to protect innocent lives,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would help implement new and updated technology used for scanning cargo and vehicles at our ports of entry to improve fentanyl detection, combat illicit drug smuggling, and better protect Texans from this scourge.”
“The tidal wave of fentanyl surging across our southern border is causing devastation in every corner of our country. To protect Americans from this scourge, we must sever the pipeline that is carrying this deadly drug to our communities,” said American Trucking Association’s Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer Ed Gilroy. “The CATCH Fentanyl Act would strike a major blow against fentanyl traffickers by empowering CBP to pioneer and adopt the cutting-edge technology it needs at border crossings to identify illicit substances more effectively while processing vehicles and freight more efficiently. ATA is committed to addressing the drug crisis at our border, and we commend Representatives Higgins and Magaziner for their leadership on this bipartisan legislation, which will thwart evolving threats and help save countless lives.”
Read the full legislation here.
