Trump signs legislation aimed at tackling fentanyl trafficking

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, or HALT Fentanyl Act, into law at a ceremony with families who lost family members to the drug. 

"As you know, I have a very good relationship with President Xi of China, but I imposed a 20% tariff on China because of the fentanyl," Trump said prior to the signing of the bill. "And I call it a penalty. It's a penalty because China delivers much of the fentanyl."

The legislation classifies fentanyl as a Schedule I drug, which means there will be tougher penalties for individuals convicted of fentanyl-related offenses, according to The Hill. 

Lawmakers in attendance at the ceremony included Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.

Some family members spoke before Trump signed the bill and thanked the president for tackling the issue. 

"You've closed the borders, sanctioned cartels, imposed tariffs [and] closed shipping loopholes," Anne Funder, who lost her son to fentanyl, said before Trump signed the bill. "Most people don't know about that. That was a big one. [You] dealt with countries where it's coming from."