Rep. Schrier Hosts Fentanyl Roundtable in Pierce County

SUMNER, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) convened a roundtable to discuss the impacts of fentanyl in Pierce County and surrounding communities and ways to combat this crisis. Representative Schrier was joined by Department of Homeland Security SAC Robert Hammer, as well as public health, emergency service, and law enforcement officials.  

As a member of Congress, Representative Schrier has worked to combat the fentanyl crisis by:   

• Voting for the HALT Fentanyl Act, which passed the House of Representatives and designates fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug.  
• Cosponsoring the Invest to Protect Act, which would increase funding for small law enforcement departments.   
• Signing onto a letter advocating for increased funding for border security. Last year, federal agents seized more than 19,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl at the border. Representative Schrier joined her New Democrat Coalition colleagues in signing this letter.   
• Introducing the bipartisan ALERT Parity Act, which would increase connection to emergency services for rural communities. Access to emergency services is critical in medical emergencies such as overdoses. This bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.   
• Hosting town halls dedicated to informing parents and teens about the dangers of fentanyl and how to stay safe.   
• Hosting a series of fentanyl roundtables to gather feedback from community members and local experts throughout the Eighth District   

"As a pediatrician and a mother, I understand how serious the ongoing fentanyl crisis is and share the concern of so many parents who worry about how this can impact their children. As a community member, I also understand how so many of the issues we are facing are tied to this epidemic, like retail crime and homelessness,” said Representative Schrier. “That’s why I continue to bring local leaders and experts together to discuss the challenges we face and find ways we can support each other’s respective efforts as we continue to work towards overcoming this crisis.” 

“Alongside our local and federal partners, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) works towards a common goal of protecting our communities against public safety threats, including dangerous drugs like fentanyl,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI seeks to disrupt the supply chain and dismantle transnational criminal organizations perpetuating the illicit drug market to keep fentanyl out of our communities.” 

“I appreciate Congresswoman Schrier hosting a fentanyl discussion in our community.  The fentanyl crisis is larger than any single discipline or governmental entity can combat on their own,” said Mark Berry, Chief of Police, Bonney Lake Police Department. “This requires a combined effort of law-enforcement, fire and rescue, rehabilitation and therapy and mental health services. We need partnerships and funding from federal, state, and local governments.” 

In Congress, Representative Schrier has been a constant advocate for addressing the fentanyl crisis and has introduced, cosponsored, and voted for legislation that would designate fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug, fund small law enforcement departments, enhance border security, and improve emergency services for rural Washingtonians.