Rep. Craig Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Fentanyl Trafficking on Social Media Platforms, Keep Minnesotans Safe Online
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation to stop drug trafficking on social media platforms and help law enforcement counter the sale of illicit drugs online.
Rep. Craig’s bipartisan bill requires social media companies and other communication service providers to alert federal law enforcement when illicit drug-dealing and distribution occurs on their platforms.
The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act is named for Devin Norring of Hastings, MN, and Cooper Davis of Shawnee, KS. Both teenagers died of fentanyl poisoning after purchasing what they thought were Percocet pills on Snapchat. The pills were laced with illicit fentanyl.
“Fentanyl has wreaked havoc on Minnesota communities, and we know that too many fentanyl overdoses have been caused by drugs that were sold through social media,” said Rep. Craig. “We can and should hold social media companies accountable for drug trafficking on their platforms. That’s why I’m proud to be working across the aisle to pass this common-sense legislation that will force social media companies to report drug trafficking to the authorities, help law enforcement curb the sale of illicit drugs and keep Minnesotans safe online.”
“Fentanyl is tearing apart families and devastating communities across America,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act gives law enforcement the tools they need to stop the online sale of deadly fentanyl and hold those targeting our kids accountable. By requiring social media and communication platforms to report fentanyl activity, we can save lives and shut down this growing threat. As a mother, physician, and former state public health director, I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort to protect our youth and strengthen our response to the fentanyl crisis.”
The National Crime Prevention Council estimates that eight in ten teen and young adult fentanyl overdose deaths are associated with social media contact. According to the MN Department of Health, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are now involved in about 70% of all overdose deaths in Minnesota, according to preliminary 2023 data.
The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act is endorsed by the Alexander Neville Foundation, the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, the American College of Emergency Physicians, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Community Anti-Drug Coalition, the Cooper Davis Memorial Foundation, the Devin J. Norring Foundation, Houston HIDTA, Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse, the National Association of Counties, the National District Attorneys Association, the National HIDTA Directors Association, the Partnership for Safe Medicines and Snap, Inc..
“Our family and the Devin J. Norring Foundation wholeheartedly support the Cooper Davis & Devin Norring Act - legislation that serves as a critical step toward protecting families from the deadly threat of fentanyl sold through social media,” said the family of Devin J. Norring and the Devin J. Norring Foundation. “This bill honors the lives of Cooper and Devin by holding tech companies accountable and giving law enforcement the tools they need to respond to this crisis. No parent should have to search for answers in a system that shields predators. It’s time for truth, transparency, and action.”
"Our family continues to be extremely grateful for Senator Marshall and his colleagues’ dedication to this legislation,” said Libby Davis, mother of Cooper Davis. “We are both honored and saddened to have another name, Devin Norring, added to this bill. However, the harsh reality is that there are thousands of other teenagers' names that could be added to this bill because they too lost their lives in this same tragic way. Each with a story demonstrating that this can happen to any family. We, as parents and grandparents, do so many things to keep our kids safe, from baby gates, car seats, and seatbelts, to bike helmets, sunscreen, and vaccinations. This is no different. We need our legislators to come together and get this bipartisan bill across the finish line so that countless children can be saved, theirs being no exception.”
Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Derek Schmidt (R-KS) and Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) are original co-sponsors of the legislation. Companion legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN).
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