[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6306249,"mediaKeyId","2440000-45a12b06bb2ec6bad920fb3638a4b606","parentId",2440000,"title","Senate Judiciary Committee advances HALT fentanyl bill after contested markup; several bipartisan amendments defeated","audioSeconds",3751,"startMs",1895000,"endMs",5646000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2440000-45a12b06bb2ec6bad920fb3638a4b606&start=1895&end=5646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2440000-45a12b06bb2ec6bad920fb3638a4b606/thumbnail_1895000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6306249/Senate-Judiciary-Committee-advances-HALT-fentanyl-bill-after-contested-markup-several-bipartisan-amendments-defeated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306249-145ff17948d8b3bd71edad77e9969df2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993714&Signature=HhZE9czh4clRfzUmVozd0NKFhfHzDI82W3KyqjgQnoUOjcw9qRl9bPE2iur94MY5fQ9tXnNrUHTMXwytS2DKNXNUrkHn2BzGb6Yot0UuOpMNreVRvgs6ZFK5wls40uBvDqQqdV9hLT7jVBnfjQrCCaVUL97IhaaysQF18T840rBFmnRAe1DU5t~56Oow5KsgpmRFW3PY8MUFxfIxRvNRdwYI757ZluJir8t9xtwuPfNHdSEB0Y1aFMSy4Dt3G~JS0OSaEowxqyFL~FRsgAcqsTMcaQgK5tXTthEAnNAHlCPTLT1BM5dtZg9EYbhNGtoiRB29-1~wA9S5LDG0GXop5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary","date","2025-02-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Judiciary Committee spent several hours debating the HALT (Halt Analogous Lethal Toxins) fentanyl bill and a string of proposed amendments addressing prevention, reporting and harm-reduction measures. Committee members repeatedly pressed for a balance between quickly scheduling fentanyl-related substances and adding bipartisan harm-reduction and prevention measures such as school-based education, testing strips and DEA reporting.

Senator Cornyn and other proponents argued permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogs should not be delayed because of additional amendments and warned that postponing action would lead to more overdose deaths. Senator Booker, Senator Hirono and other members pressed to add measures they described as pragmatic, bipartisan, and life-saving — including school education reporting, voluntary test-strip distribution grants for states, additional DEA/DOJ transparency about fentanyl-related substances (FRS), and funding for harm-reduction programs through SAMHSA.

Key debate points and votes: Senator Hirono offered an amendment (EL L25154) asking the Department of Justice, in consultation with the Department of Education, to report on barriers and best practices for fentanyl prevention education in schools; the clerk announced the vote as 10 ayes and 12 nays and the amendment failed. Multiple other amendments raised by senators seeking test-strip funding, DEA reporting, and expanded harm-reduction funding were debated on the record; several of those proposals were called up for votes and were defeated by similar margins in the excerpted transcript.

Committee procedure and quorum: the committee recessed partway through the markup to reconvene at 1:00 p.m. Several senators said they were willing to accept manager’s packages or to take up amendments later, but members pressed to include bipartisan measures now to avoid further delay. At multiple points the clerk noted there was not a sufficient number of members present to vote, and the committee paused and reconvened.

Outcome in the record: the provided transcript records multiple roll-call outcomes for specific amendments (including the Hirono amendment failing 10-12) and ends with the clerk announcing, “The bill is reported. The meeting is adjourned.” The transcript excerpt does not include a final full committee roll-call tally for the underlying HALT bill in the excerpt.

Why it matters: Senators described fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances as a leading cause of death among adults 18–45 and urged the committee to adopt measures that combine scheduling with prevention and harm reduction. Opponents of certain amendments warned that altering the bill could jeopardize the House-Senate managers’ package and delay final enactment, potentially delaying policies supporters say would save lives.

(Ending) The committee’s recorded deliberations show sustained bipartisan interest in adding prevention and harm-reduction steps to a bill aimed at permanently scheduling fentanyl-related substances. The transcript documents the amendments considered, the debate over their merits, and multiple failed amendment votes; the excerpt does not provide a final committee roll-call on the bill’s passage to the Senate calendar.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Executive Business Meeting: February 27th, 2025 (Audio)","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Judiciary Committee debated and ultimately reported the HALT fentanyl bill after extended markup, rejecting several bipartisan amendments that sponsors said would expand prevention, harm-reduction and transparency.","taxTitle","Judiciary: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1997,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6306254,"Senate Judiciary Committee reports Todd Blanche; Abigail Slater also advanced amid debate on following court orders",1293,467000,1760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2440000-45a12b06bb2ec6bad920fb3638a4b606&start=467&end=1760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2440000-45a12b06bb2ec6bad920fb3638a4b606/thumbnail_467000.jpg","/articles/6306254/Senate-Judiciary-Committee-reports-Todd-Blanche-Abigail-Slater-also-advanced-amid-debate-on-following-court-orders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306254-946ae32515a433c62db2bfb43112c2a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993714&Signature=f7jHTh7KEPP2J8mwu46wSP04DpRArecozVMamCLZscHjfAEOwjDAB-eLfqWm1~o67tk68pbWqOU6bFaT3D8JNSbbsMLg1XwRqLTM8~jsjf9HMUYC0uaQceJeHZBP4qLsg7e-02G~cN~ul4X6RDcqcxNYRzuq74PSVleuFl0~7fGRRB6qyCjzeFYAtv3Iu2gqbKANMs6p378J5An2TT9rgnvsxdybE7WoxyrTQ0OAenz2jGtLlwW7rEI6KTPnhQ~x1CPHeVsnmkaizkdDIEf5gUwoyJ1Vqy0DXBxm3-5B8MDwUIUIjzISgdassfIyHszikCobPahxuljwx9yOe30-Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted 12-10 to report the nomination of Todd Blanche to be deputy attorney general and 20-2 to report Abigail Slater for an assistant attorney general position, after an extended and at times heated discussion about nominees' commitments to follow court orders and the independence of the Department of Justice.

The debate centered on whether senior Justice Department officials must unequivocally state they would follow court orders they personally regard as morally repugnant. Senator Durbin warned that recent statements from the administration risk undermining longstanding checks and balances and cautioned that nominees who equivocate on obeying court orders raise “serious, existential, constitutional questions.” He said the precedents being set could weaken independent agencies and the rule of law.

Supporters of Blanche said nominees faced uncomfortable hypotheticals in questioning and defended the view that very rare, extreme cases could justify special consideration. Senator Ollie (speaking in defense during questioning) invoked President Abraham Lincoln’s historical handling of Dred Scott as an example of narrow application to avoid broader injustice and said the answer some nominees gave — that court orders are generally binding but there may be extreme exceptions — was “exactly correct.” Senator Hawley, who pressed nominees on these issues during the hearing, argued for careful consideration of the legal complexities raised.

Senator Booker and others opposed Blanche’s nomination on the grounds they do not trust him to insulate the Justice Department from partisan influence. Booker cited recent dismissals and resignations of career prosecutors and said he could not support Blanche because he “refused to answer” whether he would resign if directed by the president to drop a politically motivated prosecution.

Abigail Slater drew bipartisan praise from several senators for her record in antitrust work and her stated willingness to treat antitrust enforcement as serving the public rather than serving presidential political interests; she was reported favorably by a 20-2 vote. Senator Klobuchar and others said Slater pledged to enforce the law impartially and had the experience to pursue cases against large tech platforms.

Votes and procedure: the committee called the roll on both nominations. The clerk announced the Blanche vote as 12 in favor and 10 opposed; the Slater nomination was reported 20-2. Several senators spoke during and after the roll calls to explain their votes.

The committee then moved to consider the HALT fentanyl bill and several amendments but recessed partway through the markup to reconvene later.

Why it matters: The deputy attorney general post is second in the Department of Justice and will help set enforcement priorities. Senators on both sides said this confirmation round tests norms about the independence of the Justice Department and the willingness of high-level nominees to commit publicly to follow the law and court orders.

The committee record shows robust disagreement over how nominees should answer hypothetical questions about following court orders, with multiple senators warning that equivocation could have long-term consequences for judicial legitimacy.

(Ending) The committee advanced both nominations to the Senate calendar. The transcript shows extensive statements on their votes and the committee proceeded to consider firearm- and drug-related legislation and amendments before adjourning; additional floor action or full-Senate consideration was not part of the provided transcript.","The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 to report the nomination of Todd Blanche to be deputy attorney general and 20-2 to report Abigail Slater for an assistant attorney general post after hours of debate over nominees' willingness to follow court orders and the independence of the Justice Department.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate Judiciary Committee advances HALT fentanyl bill after contested markup; several bipartisan amendments defeated

Senate Judiciary Committee reports Todd Blanche; Abigail Slater also advanced amid debate on following court orders