Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., is pushing the Biden administration to classify fentanyl as a biological and chemical weapon and to sanction China for its role in fueling the U.S. drug crisis. Banks believes that China could stop the flow of fentanyl to the U.S. and Mexican drug cartels overnight if they chose to do so, as they are currently sending deadly opioids that are killing tens of thousands of Americans each year. His bill would amend the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, requiring sanctions on foreign entities contributing to another country’s stock or use of chemical and biological weapons.
The House select committee on China, of which Banks is a member, recently released a report accusing China of exacerbating the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. The report found that the Chinese Communist government provides subsidies to companies that manufacture fentanyl precursors and other synthetic drugs, as long as these products are sold outside of China. This program has been ongoing since 2018 and persisted even after President Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023. The U.S. drug overdose rate has quadrupled from 2002 to 2022, with deaths highest among adults aged 35-44 in recent years.
U.S. authorities have been struggling with fentanyl entering the country through various means, including across the U.S.-Mexico border, often being mixed with other illicit substances. Nate Moellering, the executive vice president of an addiction treatment center and a fentanyl survivor himself, attributes the crisis directly to the actions of the Chinese government. He believes that imposing sanctions against China is a necessary step for the federal government to combat the crisis and protect Americans. Moellering emphasizes that the issue of fentanyl is not a partisan one, but rather a public health crisis that requires immediate action.
The fentanyl crisis has had a devastating impact on American communities and the economy, with tens of thousands of lives lost each year due to overdoses. Rep. Banks and others are calling for accountability from China for their role in fueling this crisis and allowing deadly substances to flow into the U.S. Despite efforts to address the crisis, including meetings between U.S. and Chinese officials, the flow of fentanyl from China has continued, with subsidies for the production of these drugs persisting.
The push to categorize fentanyl as a biological and chemical weapon and sanction China for its involvement in the U.S. drug crisis reflects the gravity of the situation and the need for decisive action. Lawmakers like Rep. Banks are demanding accountability and consequences for those contributing to the distribution of dangerous substances that have led to a significant increase in overdose deaths. Addressing the fentanyl crisis is crucial to protecting the health and safety of Americans and preventing further loss of life due to the proliferation of these deadly opioids.
