HARRISBURG — Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) today praised President Donald J. Trump’s decisive action targeting the Maduro regime in Venezuela, emphasizing that confronting foreign narco-regimes is essential to stopping the flow of fentanyl into the United States and reinforcing Pennsylvania’s efforts to protect families through Senate Bill 92, known as Tyler’s Law.
“Fentanyl is not appearing in our communities by accident — it is being trafficked by criminal networks that profit from death and deception,” Mastriano said. “President Trump’s action against the Maduro regime strikes at the international sources of this poison and strengthens our fight here at home through Tyler’s Law.”
The Maduro regime has long been linked to transnational drug trafficking organizations that fuel the fentanyl epidemic devastating American families. Disrupting these networks at their source supports state and local efforts to keep deadly drugs off Pennsylvania streets.
Tyler’s Law is named in memory of Tyler Shanafelter, an 18-year-old Pennsylvanian who tragically lost his life after purchasing what he believed to be Percocet. Instead, the pills were laced with fentanyl. Tyler overdosed and died, his life stolen by traffickers who disguise lethal drugs as legitimate medication.
“Tyler’s story is heartbreaking, and it is far too common,” Mastriano said. “An 18-year-old thought he was taking a prescription painkiller, but fentanyl took his life. Tyler’s Law exists to make sure traffickers who sell this poison are held accountable and families are protected from this kind of tragedy.”
Senate Bill 92 strengthens penalties for fentanyl trafficking, improves enforcement tools for law enforcement and prioritizes the safety of families and children across the commonwealth. Reflecting strong bipartisan concern over the fentanyl crisis, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 33 to 16 and is currently awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee.
“The Senate has acted, and the urgency is clear,” Mastriano said. “Now the House must move this bill forward. Every delay means more lives at risk and more families devastated by fentanyl.”
Mastriano emphasized that protecting families requires leadership and enforcement at every level of government — international, federal, state and local.
“When the federal government confronts narco-regimes and international drug networks, it directly supports the goals of Tyler’s Law,” Mastriano added. “Stopping fentanyl at its source and enforcing strong laws here in Pennsylvania go hand in hand. Both are necessary to save lives.”
CONTACT: Don Beishl