Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2026, including increasing individual and public awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young people.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1234
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-29: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-18T17:31:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1234) expresses support for designating National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2026. Its main goal is to raise public and individual awareness about the dangers of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills—pills made illegally to look like real prescription drugs—and their severe impact on families and young people.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a detailed preamble with facts and statistics on the fentanyl crisis, followed by four main points in the "Resolved" section:
- Supports the recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day to highlight the effects of counterfeit fentanyl pills.
- Applauds the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement in fighting the spread of these pills.
- Encourages the use of existing legal powers to stop and prevent the distribution of illicit counterfeit pills.
- Supports officially designating "National Fentanyl Awareness Day."
Key facts from the preamble include:
- Counterfeit pills often contain a lethal dose (at least 2 mg) of fentanyl; 5 out of 10 tested by the DEA are deadly.
- Over 47 million counterfeit pills seized in 2025, plus massive fentanyl powder seizures equivalent to 369 million lethal doses.
- Fentanyl linked to ~70,000 drug deaths in the year ending October 2025, with sharp rises among youth (e.g., 236% increase in teen deaths from 2019-2021).
- Pills sold easily online, accessible to teens; low awareness among youth (e.g., only 50-65% know about counterfeit pills).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- None. This is a non-binding resolution that expresses the House's opinion and support. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or mandate actions.
Potential Impacts
- Citizens: Increases public education on fentanyl risks, potentially reducing accidental overdoses, especially among youth and families.
- Government agencies: Symbolic praise for law enforcement (e.g., DEA) may boost morale but imposes no new duties; encourages using current tools.
- No direct international relations impact, though it highlights domestic drug trafficking issues.
- Overall, mainly symbolic and awareness-focused, with indirect effects on public health campaigns and policy discussions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Young people and families: Primary focus, as counterfeit pills target youth via social media and mimic common prescription drugs.
- Law enforcement agencies (DEA, federal/state/local): Recognized for seizures and anti-trafficking work.
- General public: Aimed at broader awareness to combat low knowledge levels (e.g., only 50-55% of teens/young adults feel informed about fentanyl).
- E-commerce and social media platforms: Implicitly called out for enabling sales.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: No enforceable requirements; fully aligns with Congress's power to pass resolutions expressing views (Article I). Non-binding nature avoids separation-of-powers issues.
- Political: Signals bipartisan concern (introduced by Democrats and Republicans) on the opioid crisis. Could influence future funding or legislation on drug enforcement and prevention, but remains symbolic. Referred to Energy & Commerce and Judiciary Committees for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-29: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-29: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-29: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2026, including increasing individual and public awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young people. — issued 2026-04-29 — PDF (4 pages)