Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the Senate with remarks on efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis in the United States. He criticized recent moves by some Democrats to end the emergency declaration initiated by former President Trump, which deals with the inflow of fentanyl across borders, including the northern border from Canada.

Thune emphasized the bipartisan support for the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was passed by the Senate to combat the fentanyl crisis, and expressed concern over the potential reversal of progress in the fight against this issue. "As I said at the time, this bill joins other efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis that is taking so many lives in our country," Thune stated.

The majority leader highlighted the sophisticated supply chain associated with fentanyl trafficking, pointing out the significant roles of China, Mexico, and increasingly Canada in this crisis. "Precursor chemicals are shipped from China to North America – landing in Mexico, Canada, and the United States," Thune noted, further elaborating on the growing production in Canada and the involvement of transnational networks in fentanyl production.

Thune cited a statement from a veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the threat posed by Canada's illicit fentanyl operations. "Canada is a significant platform for transnational networks and one of the most concerning threats for synthetic narcotic production and exportation to our allies, including the [U.S.]," Thune quoted.

He expressed concern that focusing solely on the southern border may lead to a shift in cartel operations towards the northern border, as indicated by recent warnings from law enforcement and intelligence officials. "We’ve already seen some illegal immigrants attempt that shift when faced with stricter security measures at the southern border," he mentioned.

The speech stressed the need for an all-inclusive approach to curb the fentanyl crisis. "If we are serious about ending the fentanyl crisis in America, we need to address the entirety of the crisis," Thune urged, advocating for the continuation of emergency measures that target all potential pathways for fentanyl entering the United States.

In conclusion, Thune called on his colleagues to oppose the resolution ending the emergency declaration, stating, "President Trump and Republicans promised that we would unleash American energy and end the lawlessness at our borders, and we intend to keep those promises."