The main point: The House passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, sending it to Trump’s desk.
The details: The bill would permanently classify fentanyl analogues as Schedule I substances, which results in harsher sentences for possession of the drug. The substances have been temporarily classified as Schedule I since 2018.
The larger context: The bill’s quick passage in the early days of this Congress suggests that cracking down on the opioid crisis is seen as a political winner and top policy priority.
The reaction:
Read more: Fentanyl Bill Passes; House passes bill to to combat fentanyl trafficking, sending it to Trump’s desk