WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko’s (AZ-08) Securing the Border for Public Health Act passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This legislation utilizes Title 42 Public Health Authorities to stop the import of certain controlled substances.

“I am pleased to see that my legislation to use Title 42 to stop the flow of illicit drugs has passed the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “The Biden Administration’s open border agenda has enabled criminal cartels to traffic record amounts of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, into our communities. I am grateful to my colleagues for their support on this critical bill, and I hope this bill will be brought up for a full vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee soon.”

Under current law, Title 42 Public Health Authorities can only be exercised to limit the spread of a communicable disease. This legislation expands the application of Title 42 to include stopping the import of illicit drugs. This change will allow the Biden Administration to extend the current Title 42 Public Health Authority to address the ongoing threat of illicit drugs to American communities.

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