Congressman Don Davis Votes in Support of Legislation to Take on the Fentanyl Epidemic and Secure the Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) voted in support of  H.R. 3602, the bipartisan End the Border Catastrophe Act, which failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass it by a margin of 215-199. 

“The border crisis has left border patrol and field operations personnel overworked and overwhelmed. Our border communities are crying out for help and people are dying each day from illegal drugs that are making their way into our neighborhoods,” said Congressman Don Davis. “I have visited the border three times, and the situation has been the same on each occasion. It’s difficult for border patrol personnel to keep up when there are surges of unlawful migrant crossings and insufficient staffing and technology to handle the crisis. On top of that, our ports of entry require additional resources to prevent the flow of deadly fentanyl into our communities."

The comprehensive border security bill would stem the flow of deadly fentanyl, provide desperately needed grants to border communities overwhelmed by the evolving crisis, and prevent those on the FBI Terror Watch List from entering the United States. Most importantly, the legislation did not include the E-verify provision from H.R. 2, which passed the House despite bipartisan opposition. E-verify would cause a $60 billion drop in agriculture production, resulting in 5-6 percent higher prices at the grocery store when consumers are just trying to break even. 

“The legislation is a common sense solution to the evolving crisis at our border,” added Congressman Davis. “It provides crucial reimbursements to repay border communities for their outsized contribution, prevents those on the Terror Watch List from entering our country, and stops deadly fentanyl from flooding into our communities.”

Key provisions of H.R. 3602 include:

• Eliminating the practice of “catch and release,” whereby migrants unlawfully entering the country are released into the interior without any definitive court date. 
• Standing up a new grants program to reimburse border communities and states for any costs related to border security.
• Enforcing existing laws that bar unlawful entry into the United States, reducing the likelihood that individuals on the Terror Watch List could enter the country.

Congressman Davis also voted for H.R. 8038, the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, which included H.R. 3333, the Fend Off Fentanyl Act, which would impose sanctions on any foreign person involved in fentanyl trafficking. With these votes, Congressman Davis has a 91 percent bipartisan voting record on immigration and border security-related issues.

Since taking office, Congressman Davis has developed a track record of bipartisan cooperation on border security and fentanyl-related legislation. He has traveled to three epicenters of the evolving border crisis in the 118th Congress. In July 2023, he introduced H.R. 4988, the Modern Authentication of Pharmaceuticals (MAP) Act, a bill to cut down on the flow of counterfeit substances, namely fentanyl. In 2022 alone, authorities seized more than 50.6 million prescription pills laced with the deadly narcotic.

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