Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4) is seeking to stop deadly drugs from coming into America by cosponsoring the Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act (HR 9093) that would expand the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to help combat the deadly synthetic opioid.
Cosponsor and support legislation to expand DHS authority to combat fentanyl trafficking and stop deadly drugs from entering the United States.
Occurrences
H.R.747 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025
Evidence
Action: Mr. Walkinshaw (for himself, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Correa, and Mr. Guest) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security. Full title: To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop performance metrics relating to the detection, deterrence, and seizure of fentanyl. Cosponsors listed: Michael T. McCaul (TX); J. Luis Correa (CA); Michael Guest (MS).
Public Law 118-43, the END FENTANYL Act, requires the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to regularly review and update Office of Field Operations policies and manuals for inspections at ports of entry to respond to methods used to disguise illegal activity, including drug smuggling. The legislative history says S. 206 passed the House on March 7, 2024 and was approved March 18, 2024.
S. 206 was introduced by Sen. Rick Scott for himself and Sens. Braun, Hassan, Feinstein, and Rosen. The bill required CBP to review and update field manuals related to inspections at ports of entry to respond to smuggling of drugs and humans along the border.
H.R. 8535 was introduced by Rep. Walkinshaw for himself and Reps. McCaul, Correa, and Guest. The bill would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop performance metrics relating to the detection, deterrence, and seizure of fentanyl. Christopher H. Smith is not listed among the sponsor or cosponsors in the introduced version.
Congress.gov lists H.R. 27 as the HALT Fentanyl Act, sponsored by Rep. H. Morgan Griffith, with 61 cosponsors. It passed the House on February 6, 2025 by 312-108. The CRS summary says it permanently places fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I and adjusts penalties and research registration rules.
Congress.gov lists 52 current cosponsors for the 118th Congress HALT Fentanyl Act, all Republican. The visible official cosponsor list includes Rep. Van Drew as the one New Jersey cosponsor and does not include Rep. Christopher H. Smith.
The House Clerk recorded Roll Call 237 on May 25, 2023 for passage of H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act. The vote passed 289-133, and Smith (NJ), Republican, New Jersey, is recorded as voting Yea.
Assessments
Smith has some documented support for federal fentanyl legislation, including a recorded yea vote for the HALT Fentanyl Act in the prior Congress. However, the strongest DHS/CBP-specific evidence, including the END FENTANYL Act and the 119th Congress Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act, does not show him as sponsor or cosponsor, and the cited 119th Congress bill was introduced by other members. Because the record shows related anti-fentanyl support but not personal cosponsorship or material advancement of DHS-authority legislation, this is only partial credit rather than delivered.
The promise is specifically that Christopher H. Smith would cosponsor and support legislation expanding DHS authority against fentanyl trafficking. The only evidence provided shows a relevant fentanyl-related House bill was introduced, but Smith is not listed as sponsor or cosponsor. That demonstrates issue activity in Congress, not that Smith personally fulfilled the promise through cosponsorship or identifiable support. With no direct evidence of his sponsorship, cosponsorship, votes, statements, or other material action, fulfillment cannot be confirmed or disproven from the record here.