HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2024-003Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Report
File Number: AB2024-064
File ID: AB2024-064 Version: 1 Status: Substitute Approved
File Created: 01/02/2024 Entered by: CHalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Final Action: 01/09/2024
Agenda Date: 01/09/2024 Enactment #: RES 2024-003
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: chalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution requesting that the President of the United States declare a federal emergency in response to
the opioid and fentanyl crisis
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Resolution requesting that the President of the United States declare a federal emergency in response to
the opioid and fentanyl crisis
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
01/09/2024 Council Committee of the Whole
01/09/2024 Council
Aye: 7
Nay: 0
Aye: 7
Nay: 0
Action:
Sent To:
RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL WITH
PROPOSED
AMENDMENT(S)
Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
SUBSTITUTE APPROVED
Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Attachments: Resolution, Substitute Resolution Amended in Committee 1.9.2024
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 111012024
1
2 PROPOSED BY: BUCHANAN, ELENBAAS
3 INTRODUCTION DATE: JANUARY 9, 2024
4
5
6
7 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-003
8
9 REQUESTING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DECLARE A FEDERAL
10 EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID AND FENTANYL CRISIS
11
12
13 WHEREAS, according to WhatcomOverdosePrevention.org, overdose deaths in Whatcom
14 County in 2023 (132) exceeded deaths in 2022 (91) and have markedly increased every year
15 since 2018; and
16
17 WHEREAS, the United States is facing the worst drug crisis in its history, and the
18 resulting tragedies are decimating families and contributing to extraordinary levels of despair in
19 our communities; and
20
21 WHEREAS, there exists a substantial likelihood of risk to persons and property unless
22 further efforts are taken to reduce the threat from fentanyl; and
23
24 WHEREAS, the U.S..Department of Drug Enforcement (DEA) identifies fentanyl as a
25 potent synthetic opioid drug approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times
26 more potent than heroin; and
27
28 WHEREAS, seven out of ten DEA tested pills with fentanyl are potentially deadly making
29 it likely that 'one pill can kill,' and in 2023, the DEA seized over 360 million deadly doses of
30 fentanyl; and
31
32 WHEREAS, our community's approach to fentanyl use and fentanyl-related crimes must
33 be different than our approach to other illegal drug use in our community; and
34
35 WHEREAS, the use of fentanyl continues spreading throughout our community, and new
36 and immediate avenues to enhance capabilities, coordination, and collaboration across local,
37 state, tribal, and federal agencies are needed to promote public health and safety; and
38
39 WHEREAS, in June 2023, healthcare workers, tribal leaders, educators, community
40 members and law enforcement gathered for a 2-day workshop, All Hands Whatcom: Opioid
41 Summit, as a call to listening, healing, and action for the Whatcom community in response to
42 the devastating consequences of fentanyl, meth, and opioids; and
43
44 WHEREAS, in June 2023, a coalition of government agencies, community -based
45 organizations, healthcare providers, and others from across Whatcom County formed a Multi-
46 Agency Coordination (MAC) Group in response to the local opioid and overdose crisis; and
47
48 WHEREAS, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a
49 Multiagency coordination system is used for extraordinarily large, complex incidents occurring in
50 the city or county involving numerous agencies and/or jurisdictions; and
51
52 WHEREAS, the mission of the MAC Groff is to coordinate the ongoing community -wide
53 response efforts to the opioid crisis, identify and prioritize additional short-term objectives and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
strategies to reduce drug -related deaths, and mitigate the impacts on property and public safety
in Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County MAC group aligns with the Washington State Opioid
and Overdose Response (SOOR) plan, which includes five priority goals
1. Prevent opioid misuse,
2. Identify and treat substance use disorder,
3. Ensure and improve the health and wellness of individuals that use drugs,
4. Use data to detect opioid misuse/abuse, monitor illness, injury and death, and
evaluate interventions,
5. Support individuals in recovery; and
WHEREAS, on September 22, 2023, the Lummi Indian Business Council approved
Resolution 2023-145, declaring a state of emergency in response to the fentanyl crisis; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 2023-145 provides the Lummi Indian Business Council with new
and immediate avenues to enhance capabilities, coordination, and collaboration across tribal,
local, state, and federal agencies and bring together state agencies, local law enforcement, and
internal and external partners to pursue and achieve solutions that promote public health and
safety on the Lummi Reservation; and
WHEREAS, on October 24, 2023, the Whatcom County Council approved Resolution
2023-041 supporting the Lummi Indian Business Council's state of emergency declaration in
response to the fentanyl crisis; and
WHEREAS, on December 12, 2023, Whatcom County Councilmembers Buchanan and
Elenbaas sent a letter requesting that President Biden declare a national emergency on the
opioid epidemic and open additional resources and authorities to address the crisis; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council understands coordination between all agencies
in our county as well as state and federal supports is needed to fight the fentanyl crisis; and
WHEREAS, declarations of emergency at the federal, state, and county levels can open
up additional resources, funding, and assistance to address the fentanyl emergency; and
WHEREAS, on Thursday October 26, 2017, the U.S. President officially declared the
opioid crisis a "public health emergency," adding that the "epidemic is a public health
emergency;" and
WHEREAS, on. October 26, 2017, and after consultation with public health officials as
necessary, Eric D. Hargan, Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the
authority under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, determined that a public health
emergent (PHE) exists nationwide; and
WHEREAS, as per section 310 of the public Health Service Act, a PHE declaration allows
the Secretary to enter into contracts and conduct and support investigations into the cause,
treatment, or prevention of the disease or disorder; and
WHEREAS, a declared PHE also allows the Secretary to access funds appropriated to the
Public Health Emergency Fund as well as temporarily waive or modify certain requirements for
federal medical programs and staffing procedures; and
WHEREAS, a PHE declaration lasts until the Secretary declares that the PHE no longer
exists or upon the expiration of the 90-day period; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
WHEREAS, the public health emergency declaration was renewed on January 24, 2018
and extended on April 24, 2018 and July 23, 2018; and
WHEREAS, according to GAO-23-106102, the Public Health Emergency Fund has a fund
balance of $57,000 and has not received appropriations in recent years, and the Department of
Health and Human Services' (HHS's) congressional budget justification for fiscal year 2024
includes a request for $50 million to address health threats and declared emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the Public Health Emergency Fund allows HHS to address the breadth of the
Department's responsibilities and to rapidly deploy resources early in a response effort including
deploying human services resources after a natural disaster, responding to the public health
effects of a terrorist attack, addressing emergency nutritional needs for vulnerable populations,
or responding to any other public health threat; and
WHEREAS, on November 16, 2023, the White House issued Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris
Administration Continues Progress on Fight Against Global Illicit Drug Trafficking,' which includes
the following actions
- A strategic approach to commercially disrupting the global illicit fentanyl supply chain,
- Increasing security at the border,
- Deploying detection technology,
- Expanding the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA),
- Targeting the global illicit supply chain,
- Launching the Global Coalition to address synthetic drug threats,
- Regulating `precursor' chemicals used to produce illicit fentanyl,
- Bringing law enforcement actions against every aspect of the global illicit fentanyl
supply chain, and
- Establishing a Trilateral Fentanyl Committee, working with Mexico and Canada; and
WHEREAS, additional Biden-Harris Administration actions include expanding access to
life-saving public health services, and removing decades -long barriers to treatment for
substance use disorder; and
WHEREAS, the Biden-Harris Administration has requested $26 billion for the prevention,
harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services in the FY24 budget request, and an
additional 1.55 billion in a supplemental budget request to strengthen these support services
across the country; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Council Resolution 2024-002 respectfully requests that the
Governor of the State of Washington declare a national emergency to address the fentanyl
crisis.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council respectfully
requests that the President of the United States declare a national emergency for the opioid and
fentanyl crisis, and open additional resources and authorities to address the crisis; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council
respectfully requests that the President of the United States work with the United States House
and Senate to rapidly reassess a response to this crisis.
APPROVED this 9th day of January , 2024.
������518 i E®Sir;tPsaret
e° a�aTC(g
O
Dana ;$rowh-D v19, Gl rk of°the Council
APPROVED -AS TO FORM:
/s1 Royce Buckingham (ch)
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
anavl Council Chair