Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Mary Peltola (AK-AL) voted in favor of H.R. 3602, the End the Border Catastrophe Act. The bill would shore up security and operations at the U.S.-Mexico border and take important steps to halt the deadly flow of fentanyl into Alaska. Following the vote, Rep. Peltola released the following statement:

“No one can deny we face an ongoing crisis at our Southern border. Currently, fentanyl flows across it and all the way up to Alaska, where it continues to tear families and communities apart. We must take real action to address our ongoing border crisis – that’s why I voted to pass this measure and stop cartels in their tracks.

“Alaskans know firsthand that bad actors will take advantage of cracks in our systems whenever and however they can; some of our communities sit mere miles from Russian islands. Though no legislation is perfect, I have an obligation to protect Alaskans and secure our borders.

“I will continue to press my colleagues to take up the bipartisan Senate bill that includes a fair and fast system for asylum seekers and new emergency authorities to shut down our border if it becomes overwhelmed.”

Today, Peltola also voted with a bipartisan majority to pass the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, which included the FEND (Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence) Off Fentanyl Act, legislation declaring the international trafficking of fentanyl as a national emergency and empowering the Treasury Department to sanction and block the financial assets of transnational criminal organizations involved in the practice. The measure containing FEND Off Fentanyl passed 360-58.

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