Congressman Mackenzie Takes Action on Opioids

Washington D.C. - Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, has introduced two amendments this month to address the opioid epidemic in the United States.

The Congressman's first amendment, passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), requires a study of opioid prescribing practices within the military health system. Veterans are twice as likely to experience a fatal opioid overdose compared to the general population. This work builds on efforts during Congressman Mackenzie's time as a Pennsylvania state representative to address opioid overprescribing.

"Our servicemembers deserve the best possible care, not deadly poison," said Congressman Mackenzie. "It's essential that we fully understand the roots of the opioid abuse in our veteran population, whose higher rates of chronic pain make them uniquely vulnerable to this epidemic. That starts with conducting a review of prescribing practices and ensuring they are in line with expert recommendations. I'm grateful to my colleagues for including this amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act and helping us to guard servicemembers from the scourge of opioid abuse."

On Wednesday, Congressman Mackenzie, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, successfully amended H.R. 5247 as part of the State Department Reauthorization markup. This amendment directs the State Department to work with foreign governments to prevent and interdict the flow of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, especially those originating from China.

"For years, China has played a leading role in this crisis by manufacturing and distributing the precursor chemicals that end up in the opioids killing Americans," said Congressman Mackenzie. "This is not a partisan issue-it's about saving lives. Every district in America is affected by the fentanyl crisis, and China's role in supplying the chemical building blocks of this poison must be addressed with greater urgency. By making this responsibility explicit in the State Department's mandate, we ensure that combating the flow of narcotics from China remains a top foreign policy priority."

The Congressman's remarks before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on opioids are available HERE

The text of the amendment to the NDAA can be found HERE

The text of the amendment to the State Department Reauthorization can be found HERE