U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pittsburgh, has introduced federal legislation designed to combat the scourge of fentanyl killing Americans.

McCormick introduced the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025.

Joining McCormick in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral bill are Sens. Chris Coons, D-Delaware; Katie Britt, R-Alabama; and John Fetterman, D-Braddock.

The United States is experiencing a drug abuse crisis driven by criminal cartels who push these drugs into our communities, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, a news release from McCormick’s office said.

“This legislation is meant to improve federal coordination to combat this terrible crisis, go after trafficking organizations, respond to China’s central role in producing fentanyl precursors and laundering drug money, and save American lives,” the news release said.

“Fentanyl killed nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year and over 200 Americans each day,” McCormick said, according to the news release. “This legislation would empower our federal government to coordinate all the tools at its disposal to combat the trafficking of lethal fentanyl that is ruining American families. I’ve heard from too many families who have lost their loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, I refuse to allow it to continue.”

An investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party found that the federal government lacks a centralized coordination mechanism to effectively crack down on fentanyl trafficking, the news release said. Improving federal coordination is critical to combatting fentanyl.

This legislation establishes a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics, which will be composed of representatives from the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and any other agency deemed appropriate.

Together these agencies can conduct joint operations, disrupt trafficking networks, enforce sanctions, and address the central role of the People’s Republic of China in the opioid crisis.

Fentanyl claims a Pennsylvanian’s life nearly every two hours — it’s a crisis that demands a crisis-level response,” said Fetterman, according to the news release. “This bill creates a task force of experts with real experience busting up international criminal rings to disrupt supply chains and pursue the traffickers exploiting our communities. As I’ve said before, I’ll work with anyone to get this poison off our streets, and this task force is a step in that direction.”