Dear Representatives Neguse and Bacon,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 9660, the “Samaritan Efforts to Ensure Key Health Emergency and Life-saving Protection Act (SEEK HELP) Act.”
Our law enforcement officers are dedicated to protecting the health and safety of the communities they serve, which have been ravaged by illicit fentanyl’s increasing role in the opioid epidemic. A key tool in the fight against overdose deaths is the drug naloxone, which has the ability to reverse overdoses if administered in time. Due to this, many states have Good Samaritan laws which protect people from prosecution in the event they act on preventing an opioid overdose.
The SEEK HELP Act would close gaps in Good Samaritan laws by ensuring that people cannot be prosecuted for drug possession when they seek medical assistance after witnessing or experiencing an overdose. It would establish federal laws that prevent these individuals from prosecution, closing the gaps in states that do not already have Good Samaritan laws—for example, administering naloxone to victims and/or calling 911. Drug dealers and manufacturers would still be subject to prosecution. Your legislation would also allow for the use of Byrne JAG funds to create training programs for State and local law enforcement, which would further our officers’ ability to effectively combat the opioid epidemic.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on this issue. If I can be of any help or provide additional information in support of this legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President