PRIA Logo™
119-s-3330119th Congress

Strengthening Sanctions on Fentanyl Traffickers Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Expanded sanctions on foreign fentanyl traffickers, with a priority on PRC-linked suppliers. This bill would create a sanctions framework under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to identify, designate, and punish foreign persons and entities tied to fentanyl precursor supply and trafficking into the United States.

Show full summary
  • Targets supply chains and traffickers. It focuses on PRC-based suppliers of fentanyl precursors and on foreign networks that traffic fentanyl into the U.S. It preserves Kingpin Designation Act tools and allows sanctions to end for a cartel if the President certifies it stopped the activity.
  • Imposes broad financial and trade restrictions. Designations could block property, restrict banking and credit, ban loans and foreign-exchange transactions, and bar investments or procurement ties with sanctioned persons. The bill also limits certain financial institutions from serving as primary dealers or as repositories for U.S. government funds.
  • Adds immigration and oversight levers. Leaders and officers of sanctioned persons face visa and immigration consequences. The bill creates a prioritized identification regime for PRC actors, includes reporting to Congress, and sets a 120-day congressional request process for determinations and reports.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.

Broad sanctions on drug traffickers

If enacted, the President would be allowed to block property and ban many transactions with any foreign person the President says materially helped international drug trafficking. The President would be able to stop U.S. banks from lending to them, bar U.S. persons from investing in their equity or debt, and limit their access to credit and foreign-exchange transactions. The bill would also let the U.S. Government refuse to buy goods or services from them and deny visas to their leaders and controlling shareholders.

China-linked IEEPA blocking authority

If enacted, beginning 180 days after enactment the President would be able to use IEEPA blocking sanctions on foreign people tied to the spread of illicit synthetic narcotics who meet specified China-related criteria. Those blocking rules would reach property in the United States, property that comes into the United States, and property held or controlled by U.S. persons. The bill would not let the sanctions target ordinary importation of goods or authorized U.S. intelligence or law enforcement activities. People subject to blocking or officer-barring sanctions would be inadmissible to the United States and could have current visas revoked unless the President finds admission is not contrary to U.S. interests (including law enforcement exceptions). The bill would also require prioritizing PRC-linked shippers and suppliers in fentanyl reporting until the President certifies China is no longer the primary source, and the report authority would run through December 31, 2030.

Kingpin sanctions stay but may end

If enacted, existing U.S. sanctions under the Kingpin Act on listed cartels (for example, Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation) would remain in effect. The President would be allowed to terminate sanctions for any listed organization if the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees that the group is no longer engaging in the sanctionable activity.

120‑day congressional report rule

If enacted, the President would have 120 days to decide after a written request from the chair and ranking member of an appropriate committee whether a foreign person engaged in covered activity. The President would send a classified or unclassified report to that committee saying if sanctions were or will be imposed and describing those sanctions.

Sanctions time limits and renewals

If enacted, any sanctions under this section would automatically end six years after they are imposed unless the President certifies to Congress at least 30 days before the end that continuing them is vital to national security. The President could renew that certification case by case for up to two years at a time and could renew again with repeated certifications.

Key definitions that set scope

If enacted, the bill would add clear definitions used throughout the sanctions rules. It would define terms like "foreign person," "United States person," "entity," "financial institution," and "means of production." These definitions would decide who can be targeted by the new authorities and who is excluded.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 5/18/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation