WASHINGTON — Today, the GOP Doctors Caucus, along with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), hosted a press conference to highlight the alarming rise of fentanyl overdoses in America and House Republican legislation and solutions.

You can watch a recording of the press conference here.

House Republicans “are going to continue to stand up for those families who are sick and tired of having their sons and daughters not wake up again,”said Majority Leader Scalise. “It’s happening every day, in every community in America, and it shouldn't be happening.” 

“House Republicans will continue to fight for the American people to deliver on the goals we commit to in our Commitment to America, including a nation that's safe,” said Rep. Stefanik. “We must secure our borders and work to get the scourge of fentanyl out of our communities.” 

“This is what you get when you turn control of the southern border over to the cartels," said Rep. Burgess. “Fentanyl is pouring into this country. It is unnecessary, and there is not a person here among us that has not sat at a round table or attended a meeting with someone who has lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning. Not an overdose, but an intentional act of terror brought to us courtesy of the cartels on the southern border.”

“As a physician, a lawmaker, and an Army veteran, I believe it is time we declare illicit fentanyl what it is: a weapon of mass destruction. I will be reintroducing the Stop Our Scourge Act this week aimed at stopping the deadly scourge of illicit fentanyl flowing across our porous border," said Rep. Wenstrup. "As healthcare providers and members of the Doctors Caucus, we see the devastation illicit fentanyl has wrought in every community across America, killing our families, neighbors and friends.  I urge my colleagues to join me as cosponsors on this bill and work on solving this crisis."

“I would submit that one of you today within this crowd has known somebody who has died from an overdose of fentanyl. It is an absolute national tragedy,” said Rep. Murphy. “Drug cartels are feeding this poison onto the American streets. We have to put those in prison who are distributing fentanyl because it is absolute murder. Enough of the soft-on-crime prosecutors and DAs in this country.” 

The GOP Doctors Caucus is comprised of 19 Republican Members of Congress with medical and health care provider backgrounds who utilize their medical expertise and backgrounds to develop patient-centered health care policy.