Congressman Addison McDowell Co-Leads Bipartisan Bill to Equip Schools with Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Resources
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Addison McDowell (NC-06) joined Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus, Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02), in introducing the Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act of 2025, an important bipartisan bill aimed at expanding fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention. This legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the eligible uses for existing Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grants, which provide federal funding to states tailored to support programs based on jurisdictions' specific needs. "I know firsthand the tragedy fentanyl can bring; it happens in the blink of an eye without any notice," said Congressman McDowell. "I also know that it's always better to be prepared for the worst while praying for the best. The Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act is common sense legislation that fights back against the fentanyl crisis so no family has to endure what mine did.” From 2021 - 2024, Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) Agents seized over 70,000 lbs. of fentanyl at the southern border, enough to kill the entire U.S. population nearly 55 times over. Just in 2021 alone, roughly 200,000 Americans have died from fentanyl poisoning. The Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act would allow states to direct funds to educational institutions to equip them with the resources, curriculum, and materials they need to become prepared and protected from the fentanyl crisis that has impacted communities across North Carolina and the United States for well over a decade. This includes:
For more information on the legislation, please contact Congressman McDowell’s press office at (202) 225-3065 or visit https://mcdowell.house.gov. Click here for the full text of the bill.
### |