Metro East Sun

U.S. Representative Mike Bost of Illinois has expressed his support for the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, stating that it will hold producers accountable and protect communities from opioids. Bost emphasized his continued support for law enforcement in a statement made on X.

"I voted in favor of the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act this week to hold Chinese producers and officials accountable for the spread of illicit fentanyl," said Bost. "This legislation strengthens sanctions on those responsible and helps protect communities across Southern Illinois and our great nation from the deadly impact of synthetic opioids. We must continue to support our police officers in any way we can and restore law and order across our country."

The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025 seeks to expand U.S. sanctions authorities to target Chinese companies and officials involved in the production or export of synthetic opioids and precursor chemicals. This legislation amends the 2019 Fentanyl Sanctions Act and recently passed the U.S. House amid discussions about its potential impact on U.S.–China relations and concerns regarding enforcement effectiveness, according to Congress.gov.

In Illinois, drug overdose deaths totaled 3,502 in 2023, marking an 8.3% decrease from the previous year. Opioid-related fatalities accounted for 2,855 of these deaths, representing a 9.7% decline. Among these fatalities, 92% involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, with urban counties experiencing the highest fatality rates at 31.5 per 100,000 residents, as reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment, nearly all illicit fentanyl in the United States is manufactured in Mexico by cartels using precursor chemicals and equipment largely sourced from China. The DEA reported declines in purity in 2024 due to constraints on precursors. The State Department’s 2024 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report also documents China's role in supplying these inputs.

Bost represents Illinois’ 12th District and chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee while serving on the Transportation & Infrastructure and Agriculture Committees. He previously spent two decades in the Illinois House of Representatives, including a term as House Republican Caucus Chair, focusing on veterans’ issues and fiscal responsibility as reported by the U.S. House.