INDIANAPOLIS, October 15, 2026 — The National Police Association (NPA) endorses the Fight Against Fentanyl Act (H.R. 10678), legislation introduced by Rep. Tom Kean (NJ-07) and co-sponsored by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), and Michael Lawler (NY-17). This bill would let state, local, and eligible tribal law enforcement agencies use existing funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to buy fentanyl test kits and overdose reversal drugs. It has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee; text for the bill is here.
Though fentanyl-related overdose deaths have been in decline for several years per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl continues to be a public health crisis.
Law enforcement officers, who are often the first to respond to calls involving potential drug overdoses, need ready access to every available tool to save lives.
Opioid reversal drugs like naloxone that are efficiently administered can reverse overdoses. Test kits are forensic tools that allow officers to rapidly detect whether fentanyl and related substances could potentially be involved.
“Because of fentanyl test kits, officers are in a better position to determine if naloxone should be administered, and they can take necessary steps to protect themselves from potential drug exposure,” said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association.
The Fight Against Fentanyl Act expands access to critical fentanyl-fighting resources by specifically listing them as allowable purchases. This would provide police agencies across the country with ready access to existing JAG funding.
“Law enforcement agencies that lack sufficient resources to seek and apply for separate funding would have expanded access to these life-saving tools without having to navigate administrative hurdles,” Fitzsimmons added.
The NPA commends Rep. Kean for introducing the Fight Against Fentanyl Act, and Reps. Van Drew, Garbarino and Lawler for their co-sponsorship. This bill would provide law enforcement agencies with practical tools to save lives. It would ultimately benefit communities across the United States, especially those most impacted by fentanyl. We ask the House to pass it and the Senate to introduce companion legislation.
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About: The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement through advocacy, education, and the courts. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org.
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