Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the White House’s Fentanyl Adulterated or Associated with Xylazine Response Plan. Cortez Masto is leading the bipartisan bill to regulate xylazine similar to a Schedule III controlled drug while protecting access for veterinarians. Her Combating Illicit Xylazine Act has broad bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, has been endorsed by 39 state attorneys general and is precisely the approach outlined in the White House’s report, which identifies “possible regulatory actions under the Controlled Substances Act, including scheduling of xylazine while simultaneously maintaining the legitimate supply of xylazine in veterinary medicine.”
“The White House is taking action to protect our communities from xylazine, and it’s clear they see the urgency of cracking down on traffickers and transnational criminal organizations using this drug to pad their profits,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “To save lives, we must empower law enforcement to limit the flow of xylazine into our neighborhoods while protecting its legitimate use in veterinary medicine, and I will continue working with the administration and my colleagues to pass my legislation and get them the tools they need.”
Cortez Masto’s Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is co-led by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and is cosponsored by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Her legislation has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, American Veterinary Medical Association, Nevada Cattlemen Association, National Association of Police Organizations, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Peace Officers Research Association of California, North American Meat Institute, Animal Health Institute, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and dozens of additional organizations.
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