Lafayette Reporter

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) recently authored a column in LaPolitics’ Beltway Beat newsletter, calling on President Joe Biden to intensify efforts to help Louisiana combat the fentanyl crisis. In his piece, Kennedy also urged Congress to back his proposed Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act, legislation aimed at reducing the quantity of fentanyl a dealer must possess before facing mandatory minimum sentences.

Kennedy's column includes several key excerpts:

“Louisianians are fighting back against the poisonous scourge of fentanyl. Whether it’s the pastors in New Orleans who have started distributing Narcan to their parishioners or the convenience store owner in St. Bernard Parish who offers free fentanyl test strips at his register, Louisianians are doing all they can to save lives."

He continues by addressing the challenges faced by state-level enforcement: "This battle against fentanyl overdoses, however, is not one that a state can win on its own. The Louisiana legislature has done some wonderful work to hold fentanyl dealers accountable, but President Biden’s failed border policies have turned fentanyl enforcement into a game of whack-a-mole.”

Kennedy criticizes the current administration's approach and suggests an alternative strategy: “If the Biden administration wanted to fix this problem, they would secure the border, hold cartels responsible, and ensure that fentanyl dealers face serious consequences for their crimes."

He also expresses frustration with opposition from Democratic colleagues: “My Democratic colleagues also blocked the Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act, my bill[,] which would decrease the amount of fentanyl a person can carry before they face a five or 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. Today, these fentanyl dealers face shorter sentences than individuals who deal much less deadly drugs. That’s a problem.”

In conclusion, Kennedy emphasizes Louisiana's determination and calls for federal support: “Louisianians will not stop fighting to get fentanyl out of our communities. This fight would be a lot easier, however, if President Biden started to take this problem seriously. It’s not too late for the Biden administration to abandon its disastrous policies and join us in saving American lives.”

Kennedy's full column can be accessed here. The text of the Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act is available here.