Hearing Wrap Up: Congress Must Address the Deadly Flow of Illicit Drugs and Historically High Overdose Deaths - United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

ONDCP must be equipped and directed to take all appropriate actions to fight this ongoing drug crisis and save lives.

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing titled “Oversight and Reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.” At the hearing, members emphasized that fentanyl and other illicit drugs are flowing into America’s communities at a rapid pace and overdose deaths remain historically high. In addition, members noted the Biden Administration’s radical border policies that have depleted resources at the southern border and stimulated drug cartel operations. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Rahul Gupta, who leads and coordinates the nation’s drug control policy, highlighted ongoing efforts to combat this drug overdose crisis and steps the agency continues to take to respond to emerging threats.

Key Takeaways:

The Biden Administration and Congress have a responsibility to address the deadly flow of illicit drugs that continue to fuel historically high levels of drug overdose deaths in local communities.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy: “Every five minutes, someone in America dies from a drug overdose or poisoning. I recently called a mother to express my condolences. She had just lost her daughter to drug overdose. She left behind two young children. Her sister had just passed three years prior to drug addiction… we must do everything in our power to save as many lives as possible.”
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.): “In 2021, over 100,000 people tragically lost their lives to drug overdose in the United States, the majority caused by fentanyl. In 2022, again, over 100,000 people lost their lives to drug overdose, again with the majority caused by fentanyl.”

The Biden Administration’s open border policies exacerbated the overdose crisis, stimulated drug cartel operations, and enabled deadly drugs like fentanyl to freely flow into the country.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy: “Almost 90% of fentanyl is coming through our ports of entry. We must put technology to work for the American people.”
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.): “The border crisis caused by the Biden Administration’s policies has diverted resources and manpower away from securing the border. And cartel criminals take every tactical advantage they can to cross narcotics at our ports of entry and in between as well.”

The Office of National Drug Control Policy was formed with the mission to coordinate a government-wide effort to address this drug crisis. Oversight is key to ensuring ONDCP is deploying all available taxpayer-funded resources and technology to combat this crisis and save lives.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy: “ONDCP oversees the implementation of the Nation’s drug control policy and leads the national drug control effort. ONDCP establishes policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation’s drug programs and ensures that adequate resources are dedicated and coordinated to implement them. ONDCP is laser-focused on deploying every tool we have to address the opioid and overdose epidemic.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.): “ONDCP was formed with the mission to coordinate a government-wide effort to combat the loss of life and human misery caused by illicit narcotics. We need to understand from ONDCP what is working, what isn’t working, and what could be improved by legislation to prevent illicit drugs from coming into our country, entering our communities, and poisoning our families, friends, and neighbors.”

Member Highlights:

Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) emphasized that that over 100,000 people have tragically lost their lives to drug overdose in the United States in 2021 alone. He stressed that Congress has a responsibility to conduct oversight over ONDCP’s efforts to prevent these tragedies and ensure taxpayer funded programs are meeting their objectives.

Chairman Comer: “Today’s hearing is an opportunity for the Committee to address the plague of fentanyl flowing into our communities, fueling misery across the country, and leading to historically high levels of drug overdose deaths. In 2021, over 100,000 people tragically lost their lives to drug overdose in the United States, the majority caused by fentanyl. In 2022, again, over 100,000 people lost their lives to drug overdose, again with the majority caused by fentanyl. We must continue to conduct oversight over the U.S. Government’s efforts to prevent these tragedies. And must make sure programs are using the best available resources and targeting taxpayer funds where they will make the biggest impact.”

Chairman Comer also noted that virtually all the deadly fentanyl found in the United States is mass produced by transnational criminal organizations operating in Mexico and using China sourced chemicals. He pointed out the importance of ONDCP working with local law enforcement to combat this crisis.

Chairman Comer: “Can you describe for me and my constituents in Kentucky what efforts ONDCP has directed to increase the ability of law enforcement personnel at the border to identify and seize these drugs?”

Dr. Gupta: “Mr. Chairman we are investing in technology that is going to detect fentanyl when we have so much trafficked back and forth and detect every vehicle that we need to detect…”

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) highlighted that the Biden Administration’s radical border policies have stimulated drug cartels and enabled the flow of illicit drugs into communities effectively making ONDCP’s job harder.

Rep. Foxx: “I believe in the work that the ONDCP does to keep fentanyl off our streets. But I am deeply concerned that the Biden Administration is pursuing radical open border policies that invite cartels to flood our country with an absurd number of fatal drugs. This makes the ONDCP job harder than it ought to be. How much fentanyl is being seized at the border?”

Dr. Gupta: “We are seizing more fentanyl now than ever before.”

Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) emphasized that Americans are struggling with addiction and overdose deaths remain historically high. He pointed out that China continues to provide cartels the chemicals needed to create the illicit drugs.

Rep. Palmer: “When you have over 100,000 people dying there is a problem here. I am almost to a point where I think cartels should be classified as nonstate adversaries. I am serious. When you have this many people dying… I bet there is not a person in this room that hasn’t lost a friend or family member to drug overdose. Don’t we also know the Chinese are providing the chemicals for mixing these to produce the drugs people are taking?”

Dr. Gupta: “We are doing everything. China is refusing to cooperate with us. That is why we have put a global coalition together…”

Rep Palmer: “100,000 is probably underreported. I think we are going to have to evaluate how we address this and in a bipartisan way.”

Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) reiterated that drug overdose deaths are unacceptably high and stressed that ONDCP must confront China’s role in enriching cartels and funding the flow of illicit drugs into the United States. In addition, she highlighted a recent subcommittee hearing she held that outlined how cartels have partnered with Chinese Money Laundering Organizations to make more money and traffic deadly fentanyl.

Rep. McClain: “We all know the stats, but I think they are worth repeating. In 2019, over 70,000 people died from an opioid overdose. In 2021, 106,000 Americans died from drug overdose… These numbers are shocking and clearly deserve our attention. Can we stop it before these drugs even get here? To me Dr. Gupta, it is apparent that China supplies chemicals to the cartels that produce fentanyl and other drugs. Is that correct?”

Dr. Gupta: “Predominantly China.”

Rep. McClain: “Thank you. In April I held a subcommittee hearing where we learned that Chinese money laundering organizations now dominate the money networks for the drug cartels… if we can cut off the money supply, we could stop drugs from flowing in. Can you address what your office has done to address this money laundering operation?”

Dr. Gupta: “The Chinese underground banking system as well as money laundering illicit actors is a critical issue that we need to be looking at carefully.”

Rep. McClain: “I would encourage you to use more resources and time to look at this issue.”

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) emphasized that Border Patrol resources are depleted because of the Biden Administration’s open border policies. He stressed that deadline drugs are not just flowing through ports of entry, but in between them too.

Rep. Biggs: “Pull your heads out of the sand about what is going on with the ports of entry. The Tucson sector had over 9,000 apprehensions last week. Fentanyl is pouring in. Face the facts. Our resources are depleted. Please wake up and drugs are pouring through not only the ports of entry, but between them as well.”

Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) pressed for information on what improvements ONDCP is making to combat the drug crisis. He noted how the Trump Administration’s SUPPORT Act enabled for greater transparency and accountability at ONDCP.

Rep. Fry: “I was in the General Assembly of South Carolina where I was the chairman of the South Carolina opioid response team. We had a Select Committee that was tasked with listening to medical doctors, law enforcement, teachers, people in long term recovery, and grieving families. All types of professionals on how we can get a hold of this. We borrowed a lot of our strategies from what other states… I think that there were some healthy policy initiatives that were passed into law. I’ve talked with families. We had a county Councilwoman whose son died of a fentanyl overdose and so you think about the stories and the human capital and casualty associated with them and you really want to fix it. During President Trump ‘s tenure in 2018 they passed the SUPPORT Act related to ONDCP. What improvements were made because of that 2018 law?”

Dr. Gupta: “I testified on that bill. A lot has now been done to hold our agency more accountable and transparent. More online dashboards and information available for the American people. We are still making consistent progress… Data is very helpful. We still need to address emerging threats and better coordinate with other agencies to save more lives.”

Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.) stressed the need for ONDCP to coordinate with relevant agencies to educate children, teens, and parents about these deadly drugs.

Rep. LaTurner: “When I talk to local law enforcement, it is clear this crisis is only getting worse by the day. In addition to securing the southern border, I believe proper education and awareness in our schools, homes, and communities can be the difference between life and death. We need to educate parents and teens on the reality we’re facing that a lethal dose of fentanyl, or another illegal street drug is often just one wrong Snapchat message. I have seen this tragic sequence of events play out far too many times in my District. The ONDCP must do its part and make sure others educated on these dangerous drugs.”

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