Southern West Virginia News

Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and her Republican colleagues, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), gathered today in Washington, D.C. to address the fentanyl crisis affecting West Virginia. The focus of their discussion was on President Biden's open border policies, which they believe have contributed to the devastating impact of the crisis.

Miller emphasized the urgent need for President Biden to take responsibility for the consequences of his border policies. She stated, "I've said this before and I will say it again, President Biden's border policies are not working. I taught my children that when you do something wrong, you do not blame others for your mistakes, but instead own up to them and fix it. Joe Biden needs to do the same thing. There's too much at stake."

Although West Virginia is not a border state, it has been deeply affected by the fentanyl crisis for years. In 2023 alone, there were 1,398 reported overdose deaths in the state, with opioids and synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, accounting for 70% of these cases. Miller highlighted the dire situation by stating, "Imagine how many weren't reported."

The Congresswoman also pointed out that the opioid epidemic in West Virginia worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the influx of drugs from the Southern border. She expressed concern over the lack of attention given by the Biden Administration to the impact of the fentanyl crisis on young people, saying, "It is unacceptable that young people are dying as a result of bad border policy."

In an effort to address the issue, House Republicans passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, aimed at curbing the flow of fentanyl into communities and combating its transportation across the border. Miller emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "The whole country knows this is a problem, and Republicans brought forward a solution to fix it. There is no time to play games and pass the blame around when it comes to the safety of Americans."

The roundtable discussion led by Congresswoman Carol Miller shed light on the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis on West Virginia. The Congresswoman and her Republican colleagues called for President Biden to take immediate action to rectify the situation, attributing the crisis to his open border policies. They emphasized the urgent need to protect the lives of young people and the importance of implementing effective measures to combat the flow of fentanyl into communities. The HALT Fentanyl Act was highlighted as a significant step towards addressing the crisis and ensuring the safety of all Americans.