WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Jason Lewis (MN-02) issued the following statement after voting ‘no’ on H.R. 2851, the Stop Importation and Trafficking of Synthetic Analogues Act, earlier today.
“While we all want to address the opioid problem facing our nation, this is misguided legislation. This bill does not address the underlying medical problems of the opioid epidemic and will only further hurt those facing addiction by doubling down on the status quo. Just as important, this bill cedes Congressional lawmaking authority to the Attorney General.
So many of these drug offenses should be characterized as a medical issue and not just a criminal issue. Creating new mandatory sentencing, especially without criminal intent requirements, only further exacerbates the over-incarceration and over-criminalization problems at the federal level. That is why I have continually worked for criminal justice reform by introducing the Juvenile Justice Reform Act and the Safe Justice Act, and it is high time Congress gets these bills to the President’s desk.”
