Congressman Eric Sorensen says bi-partisan support is growing for a bill he, another Democrat, and a Republican introduced in Congress that would attempt to stop fentanyl from coming in through the southern border.
Sorensen’s office is now saying a number of organizations are getting behind the “Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act,” better funding border patrol agents, and giving them more tools to detect the substance.
“I’m grateful that both the National Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Association of Police Organizations, have now endorsed this plan that will do the work that law enforcement officers need to do to keep us safe,” Sorensen recently told WJBC Radio in Bloomington.
The East Moline Democrat says that’s because both major political parties know lives are on the line, given how the substance is used and abused, and how fatal it is.
“When I was down on a bipartisan trip to the border, I heard from Customs and Border Protection officers that are working 50, 60 hours a week,” said Sorensen. “They’re not supported. We’re asking them to work in the desert. We’re not paying them enough. This allows us to hire more people.”
Sorensen says it also allows for more technology to be used to detect fentanyl. The measure is co-sponsored by a Republican, and another Democrat, in addition to the rest of the bipartisan support.
Sorensen’s opponent in the November election, retired Rockford Judge Joe McGraw, says if the border were completely closed, fentanyl distribution might not be a problem.
“The border crisis may begin hundreds of miles away, but the mass amounts of fentanyl pouring into America are killing our community members, and the migrant crisis landing in our towns further burdens our already overloaded social services system,” said McGraw’s campaign website. “Judge Joe knows what it takes to secure the border and keep Illinois families safe. When Judge Joe is in Congress, Illinois families won’t take a backseat to anyone. That’s why he’ll fight to build the wall, expand border patrol, crack down on the cartels, and ensure those who peddle lethal drugs are put behind bars.”
(Source: WJBC via RFD Illinois Radio Network)
