Dr. Joyce Leads Energy and Commerce Committee Roundtable to Address Fentanyl Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) led a House Energy and Commerce Committee roundtable discussion to address the fentanyl crisis that has become the leading cause of deaths for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49.

Two of the witnesses participating in the roundtable were Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Deborah Cullen of Shippensburg, PA, who tragically lost their son Zach, to an overdose in August of 2022. The Cullen’s shared the story of their son’s death and answered questions about the impact of the fentanyl crisis on Pennsylvania communities.

Watch their opening remarks here.

“This problem touches every district in our country, and it’s critical that we on the Energy and Commerce Committee work to find a solution,” said Congressman Joyce. “For over a year, Republicans have been trying to permanently ban fentanyl related substances by labeling them as schedule one narcotics. This designation will help give law enforcement the tools and resources they need to stop the drug traffickers that are killing American citizens without remorse.”

Watch Congressman Joyce’s opening remarks here.

Below, Congressman Joyce pictured with Mr. and Mrs. Cullen at the roundtable.

Other panelists at today’s roundtable were:

• Paul Knierim, Former Assistant Administrator, Chief of Intelligence, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
• Dr. Timothy Westlake, M.D., an Emergency Medicine Physician, is the former chairman of the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, former member of the Badger State’s Controlled Substances Board (CSB) and led the effort on class-wide scheduling of Fentanyl Related Substances (FRS) in Wisconsin.

Today’s roundtable was the first step in the legislative process as lawmakers look to pass legislation to permanently label fentanyl analogs as Schedule 1 narcotics under the Controlled Substances Act.

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