Riley has made public safety and protecting local communities a top priority: April 29, 2025 — Introduced the Stop Fentanyl Smuggling Act to strengthen fentanyl interdiction at borders and correctional facilities May 15, 2025 — Became the first Democrat to co-sponsor the Supporting Local Law Enforcement Officers Act June 13, 2025 — Voted to toughen federal fentanyl trafficking laws through the HALT Fentanyl Act
Will continue prioritizing public safety and protecting local communities, including stronger fentanyl interdiction and tougher federal fentanyl trafficking laws.
Occurrences
I’m introducing this bill because of the stories I’ve heard from corrections officers who’ve been poisoned by fentanyl smuggled into prisons and from families across Upstate New York who’ve lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses. This bill gives border agents and law enforcement access to state-of-the-art technology to stop the fentanyl smuggling and keep communities safe.
Evidence
Today, U.S. Representative Josh Riley and U.S. Representative Zach Nunn introduced the Stop Fentanyl Smuggling Act, bipartisan legislation to develop technologies for detecting and intercepting fentanyl at the nation’s borders and reduce its flow into correctional facilities. The bill directs the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories to research, develop, and test technologies capable of detecting fentanyl vapor and particles.
Josh Riley voted to pass the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act, extending FirstNet through 2027 and protecting the nationwide broadband network that first responders and public safety officials rely on to coordinate life-saving response when every second counts. The post also notes he co-sponsored legislation to protect first responders from secondary exposure to fentanyl.
The post says Riley’s public-safety agenda includes his April 29, 2025 introduction of the Stop Fentanyl Smuggling Act to strengthen fentanyl interdiction at borders and correctional facilities, and that he secured major law-enforcement funding in March 2026.
Riley voted to pass S. 331, bipartisan legislation that permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. The post also references his sponsorship of H.R. 1046 to modernize mail screening in federal prisons.
Assessments
Riley has clearly acted on the promise by introducing the Stop Fentanyl Smuggling Act, co-sponsoring fentanyl-related legislation, voting for public-safety measures, and voting to pass S. 331 to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I. That shows meaningful follow-through on prioritizing public safety and tougher fentanyl policy. But the promise was broad and outcome-oriented, including stronger interdiction and tougher federal trafficking laws, and the evidence mainly shows legislative efforts, sponsorships, and at least one supportive vote rather than clear proof that his own interdiction bill or a broader package of promised changes was fully enacted and implemented. Because he materially advanced parts of the agenda but the full promised outcome is not shown as fully delivered, partial is the best fit.