FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 14, 2023

MEDIA CONTACTS:  Danielle Jensen  Maggie Sayers

Bacon Introduces Bill to Keep Fentanyl out of Prisons

Washington, DC—Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), introduced H.R. 5266, the Interdiction of Fentanyl in Postal Mail at Federal Prisons Act alongside (NE-02), Rep. Weber (TX-14), Rep. Miller (WV-01), Rep. Cartwright (PA-08), Rep. Pappas (NH-01), and Rep. Cuellar (TX-28). The fentanyl epidemic has claimed thousands of American lives, and is a particular problem among the incarcerated, a significant number of whom suffer from addiction.

Prisons have experienced a 600% rise in drug overdoses among inmates over the past several years, driven by the smuggling of fentanyl and other contraband through the mail service. Fentanyl poses a significant risk to the health and safety inmates and prison employees. H.R. 5266 will fund a program to implement digital mail scanning in U.S. prisons, a solution that was found to be 100% effective in a trial.

“We must keep fentanyl out of the hands of inmates,” said Bacon. “Digitizing mail has been shown to be an effective method for keeping this deadly drug away from inmates and protecting employees who are tasked with processing the mail. Neglecting this simple solution diverts resources and threatens health and safety at our prisons.”

“After introducing a successful off-site mail program at USP Canaan in my district, it’s clear to me that we must modernize the inmate mail system at penitentiaries across the country,” said Cartwright. “If we can close this known pathway to drug smuggling, we can protect correctional officers and inmates.”

"Stopping illegal drugs and contraband before it reaches the inmates is critical for safety and maintaining order," said Weber. "This bill would also protect correctional officers from coming into contact with fentanyl and other dangerous drugs through the mail."

“Modernizing the mail system at federal prisons will help combat the flow of drugs and contraband while protecting the safety of staff,” said Pappas. “I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan bill with my colleagues, and I will continue to support efforts that will combat drug trafficking and save lives.”

“The fentanyl and opioid crises in America have devastated our communities and will continue to until we combat the flow of drugs throughout the United States,” said Miller. “The Interdiction of Fentanyl in Postal Mail at Federal Prisons Act will prevent fentanyl from being smuggled through postal mail into federal prisons and implement better living and working conditions at these facilities. The safety of our inmates, officers, and staff is of the utmost importance as we take crucial steps to stop the drug crisis in America.”

The bill text can be read here.

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