ASAP Applauds Agreement on Bipartisan, Bicameral STOP Act to Help Cut Off the Postal Drug Pipeline
Washington, D.C. (June 11, 2024) – The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have released a newly agreed upon version of the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act. Americans for Securing All Packages strongly supports the revised legislation, which will provide U.S. law enforcement and security agencies with the tools needed to tackle the growing issue of deadly synthetic drugs mailed from abroad. Under current law, foreign packages sent via private carriers must include advance electronic data (AED), basic security information used by Customs and Border Protection to screen the massive amount of shipments into the U.S. Packages sent through foreign postal services and delivered by the USPS, however, do not include this data, leaving a glaring loophole that criminals and drug traffickers regularly exploit to send fentanyl and other deadly opioids into American communities.
The STOP Act will close this loophole and require all foreign packages to include AED, including those delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. The bill has wide support, with over 300 co-sponsors from both houses of Congress, and is endorsed by those on the front lines of the opioid crisis, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the American Medical Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“The STOP Act will strike a major blow against the foreign criminals who exploit the nationwide opioid crisis and take American lives,” said Governor Tom Ridge, senior advisor to Americans for Securing All Packages. “We are tremendously grateful for the congressional leaders who have fought to ensure the STOP Act remains a strong bill and an effective solution for closing the postal loophole. We urge all members of Congress to quickly send this legislation to President Trump’s desk so that American law enforcement gains the comprehensive security tools needed to keep our country safe.”
“Too many Americans have seen the devastating harm of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil,” said Juliette Kayyem, senior advisor to Americans for Securing All Packages. “Any solutions for addiction and prevention cannot be effective if we do not cut off the supply of these poisons in the first place. The STOP Act would do just that, and shows that our country is standing up for American families and against drug dealers and traffickers.”
The revised STOP Act was drafted thanks to the tireless efforts of multiple congressional leaders, including Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI), Trade Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Rep. John Faso (R-NY). ASAP is grateful for their dedication to closing the postal loophole and fighting the opioid epidemic.
