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L-R: Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol; Oneida County
Executive Anthony Picente, Jr.;
Congressman Anthony Brindisi; Oneida County Assistant District Attorney
Grant Garramone; Oneida County Undersheriff Joseph Lisi
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In an effort to stop a recent rise in drug overdoses,
Congressman Anthony Brindisi says he is urging Congressional budget negotiators
to fully fund efforts to stop the shipment of fentanyl and other deadly opioids
into the United States.
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar recently declared a
State of Emergency in Broome County after six overdose deaths over a ten day
period. Local first responders in Oneida County also reported a surge in opioid
overdoses, with 25 reported, including five deaths, by last Friday.
“Opioid addiction is tearing families apart in upstate New
York and across the country, and we need to do more to stop the trafficking of
these deadly drugs. I’ve asked
Congressional budget negotiators to ensure the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) agency has the funding it needs to stop these deadly drugs from entering
the country,” said Congressman Brindisi.
“We are currently facing a deadly fentanyl emergency in
Broome County and we need to get this out of our community. Any resources we
can get to help make that happen are crucial at the local, state, and federal
level. Everyone needs to work together to keep this deadly drug out of our
neighborhoods and save lives,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar.
Last year, as a member of the New York State Assembly,
Brindisi wrote to U.S. trade representatives, demanding that they get Chinese
officials to do more to stop the production of fentanyl and other synthetic
opioids. Last December, a new agreement
was reached between U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators to cut down on fentanyl
trafficking into the U.S.
“It is good to see more cooperation from Chinese authorities
to control fentanyl production, but we also need to ensure Customs and Border
Patrol agents have the tools they need to stem the flow of fentanyl across our
country’s border,” said Congressman Brindisi.
While data for 2018 is not yet complete, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 70,000 Americans died
from drug overdoses in 2017. Of the 70,000 overdose deaths, more than 47,000
have been connected to fentanyl or other opioids.
Brindisi joined Reps.
Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), and other House members in
a letter to House appropriators requesting federal budget negotiators fully
fund the INTERDICT Act in the 2020 Fiscal Year appropriations process.
The INTERDICT Act was signed into law last year and
authorizes Congress to spend $9 million to provide CBP with the latest in
technology, as well as personnel and scientists, available during all
operational hours, to prevent, detect, and interdict fentanyl.