BUST FENTANYL Act
BUST FENTANYL Act
Plain Language Summary
# BUST FENTANYL Act Summary **What the Bill Does** The BUST FENTANYL Act would require the U.S. President to annually identify foreign opioid traffickers and impose sanctions against them. Sanctions could include freezing assets, blocking loans, and restricting financial transactions. The bill specifically targets foreign individuals and organizations involved in producing or shipping fentanyl and fentanyl-related chemicals—particularly those supplying Mexico or other countries where fentanyl is being produced for U.S. markets. The requirement would remain in effect through 2030. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily targets foreign drug traffickers, their financial networks, and foreign governments' cooperation with trafficking.
It places special emphasis on identifying Chinese nationals and entities involved in fentanyl supply chains. The legislation would also strengthen Congressional oversight by requiring detailed annual reports to lawmakers. The bill doesn't directly change laws for U.S. citizens but aims to disrupt international fentanyl trafficking networks through economic pressure and international sanctions. **Current Status** The bill (S 860) is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced in the 119th Congress by Republican Senator James Risch of Idaho.
CRS Official Summary
Break Up Suspicious Transactions of Fentanyl Act or the BUST FENTANYL ActThis bill revives a requirement for the President to identify foreign opioid traffickers and extends opioid trafficking sanctions to new categories of foreign persons (individuals and entities) whose actions support such trafficking. Specifically, the bill revives through 2030 a requirement that the President annually submit a report to Congress identifying foreign opioid traffickers. (For those listed in the report, the President must select certain sanctions to impose on them, such as bans on loans, foreign exchange transactions, and property transactions.) The bill also specifies that such reports must prioritize the identification of Chinese nationals and entities involved in the shipment of fentanyl, fentanyl-related chemicals, and fentanyl manufacturing equipment to Mexico or any other country involved in the production of fentanyl trafficked to the United States.The bill extends such foreign opioid trafficker sanctions to additional categories of foreign persons, including those that have knowingly (1) engaged in significant activities or financial transactions that materially contributed to opioid trafficking; or (2) provided financial, material, or technological support for such activities or transactions.The bill also authorizes the President to impose these sanctions on foreign government entities, including government owned or controlled financial institutions, that are involved in activities that contribute to opioid trafficking. Additionally, the President may impose property-blocking sanctions on senior officials of these foreign government entities who knowingly facilitate such activities.
Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 54.