Grassley Marks National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Highlights Resolution with Shaheen on Harms of Deadly Drug

Grassley Marks National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Highlights Resolution with Shaheen on Harms of Deadly Drug

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) are leading a bipartisan resolution recognizing today, April 29, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

Grassley spoke about his efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl during a speech on the Senate floor. Video and transcribed remarks follow.

Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Senate President Pro Tempore
"National Fentanyl Awareness Day"
Wednesday, April 29, 2026

VIDEO

The illegal drug fentanyl kills tens of thousands every year.

Today marks National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

I want to thank the senior senator from New Hampshire for her collaboration with me in recognizing this day and the dangers that come from fentanyl.

In recent years, we've become too familiar with fentanyl's dangers. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their lives...

That's why I worked with Senator Cassidy of Louisiana in getting legislation that we entitled "HALT Fentanyl Act" passed into law, signed by the president last year. So now, fentanyl is permanently scheduled, and law enforcement has more tools to remove the dangerous drugs from America's streets.

I want to commend President Trump and the Department of Justice for using those tools.

Under President Trump's leadership, fentanyl seizures continue to reach record highs, and countless Americans are safer as a result.

I also want to thank law enforcement for their tireless efforts to keep Americans safe and their daily choice to protect all of us from dangerous drugs like fentanyl.

Now, there's another recent problem that has come up with fentanyl being mixed with another dangerous drug, xylazine.

As the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I'm committed to continuing to combat dangerous drugs mixed with fentanyl, again, xylazine as an example.

Under my leadership, our committee recently reported an important, as well as bipartisan, bill that would do just that. I'll continue to push [for] passage of that legislation to stop xylazine and fentanyl mixture.

Today, though, I join many in raising awareness [for] concerns of fentanyl's impact and expressing my solidarity with those affected by this poison.

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