This resolution urges Congress to enact H.R.128, which calls for the Department of Homeland Security to classify illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). The resolution highlights that illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid often produced and trafficked illegally, poses a significant threat to public health due to its potential to cause death or serious bodily injury to large numbers of people. It aligns with the definition of a WMD as outlined in U.S. law, which includes toxic chemicals capable of widespread harm. The resolution references House Resolution 1172, which emphasizes the need for a more robust approach to combat the drug crisis and suggests that designating fentanyl as a WMD would empower the government to take stronger action against international trafficking networks.

By urging the enactment of H.R.128, the resolution aims to enhance efforts to combat the illicit fentanyl crisis while ensuring that legal uses of fentanyl for medical purposes and ongoing recovery efforts are not hindered. It calls for the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to take necessary actions against illicit manufacturing and trafficking of fentanyl, thereby addressing the urgent need for new strategies to save lives and protect communities from the devastating effects of this substance. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the President and New Jersey's Congressional delegation to advocate for this legislative change.