The opioid epidemic has devastated families and communities across Northwest Washington, and we cannot afford to wait to act.

That is why I just introduced the PROTECT Act, bipartisan legislation to support Tribal communities in the fight against opioid trafficking. Tribal leaders have been sounding the alarm about the unique challenges they face in stopping the flow of dangerous drugs onto their lands — and it is time Congress listens. This bill gives Tribes the tools they need to strengthen sovereignty, save lives, and keep their communities safe.

Tribes in my district have shared with me the unique challenges their courts and law enforcement face in holding drug traffickers accountable. The PROTECT Act takes significant steps toward addressing the many concerns I hear. Tribes across the country have emphasized the need for additional tools and resources to ensure drug traffickers cannot take advantage of jurisdictional loopholes to evade accountability. This legislation will:

* Provide parity for Tribal courts to issue search warrants for certain electronic communications, including social media, by adding Tribal courts to the list of courts with "competent jurisdiction" under the Stored Communications Act.
* Expand Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction to crimes associated with drug trafficking.
* Amend the Bureau of Prisons' Tribal Prisoner Program by expanding eligibility to offenders who commit drug-trafficking-related offenses.

This is just one part of the work ahead. I have also reintroduced my full districtwide legislative package to combat the opioid crisis, from holding traffickers accountable to investing in treatment and prevention. We are seeing signs of progress: Washington state saw an 11% drop in drug overdose deaths last year. But we know the crisis is far from over.

With your support, I will keep working alongside Tribes, local leaders, law enforcement, and public health experts to build on that progress and deliver the solutions our communities urgently need.

We have to keep fighting — together.

More soon,

Rick

Paid for and authorized by Citizens to Elect Rick Larsen.
This email was sent by Rick Larsen [[link removed]].
Citizens to Elect Rick Larsen
PO Box 326
Everett, WA 98206
United States

Email is an important way for Rick Larsen to keep supporters like you informed about critical issues and to build a winning grassroots campaign. Too much email? Switch to our less email option here [[link removed]] .

Click here to update your email address or other information. [[link removed]]

If you no longer want to hear from Rick Larsen, click here to get off all our lists instantly [[link removed]] . Questions or concerns? Contact us here [[link removed]] .
[link removed] [[link removed]]