February 10, 2025

Dear Georgian,

In 2023, 70% of the 107,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. involved a synthetic opioid, such as fentanyl.

Last week, the House passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will permanently classify fentanyl as a Schedule I drug. This legislation helps stop fentanyl from flooding across our border, cracks down on traffickers, and saves lives.

I voted for this legislation and will continue to support all efforts to secure our border and make America safe again.

My office is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition!

All high school students (9-12th grade) who reside in or attend school in the Eighth Congressional District are encouraged to participate.

The winning entry will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a year alongside artwork from every congressional district across the country.

Visit here for more information.

As always, my staff and I are here to help. If you need assistance with a federal agency or have comments or concerns to share with me, please do not hesitate to call my Warner Robins, Tifton, or Washington, D.C. offices. I encourage you to visit my website, like my Facebook page, follow me on YouTube, and follow me on X.

Keep reading for the full update.

Sincerely,

Congressman Austin Scott

Meeting with EBAA Iron

Last week, I met with EBAA Iron, an American manufacturer of highly engineered products utilized in water and wastewater systems across the United States.

They gave me an update on their operations in Cordele, Georgia, and we discussed trade and other domestic manufacturing priorities.

Meeting with South Central Primary Care Center

I also met with representatives from the South Central Primary Care Center in Ocilla, Georgia.

They provide quality healthcare and education in our district, and I heard their priorities for improving rural healthcare.

Meeting with the Crop Insurance Professionals Association

The Chairman of the Crop Insurance Professionals Association, William Cole, also stopped by my office for a meeting last week.

Expanding crop insurance options for our farmers remains a priority for me as we consider the next Farm Bill. In the aftermath of Helene, it is as clear as ever that our farmers need strong crop insurance options to protect their livelihoods.

Thankfully, we passed disaster and economic assistance this past December for our farmers who were impacted by the hurricane and the severe downturn in the agricultural economy.

Meeting with MANA Nutrition

Our friends from MANA Nutrition also came to D.C. last week from Fitzgerald, Georgia.

MANA is an incredible mission-driven organization that produces over 120,000 pounds of Ready to Use Food (RUTF), which is used to feed malnourished children worldwide.

I can attest to their significant community impact in Georgia’s Eighth Congressional District and their commitment to ending child malnutrition.

Fox News | House passes bill to permanently classify fentanyl as Schedule 1 drug

"The House passed legislation Thursday to permanently classify fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug, which lawmakers say will allow law enforcement to be better equipped to prosecute drug traffickers and stop the flow of such substances.

In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary scheduling order (TSO) for fentanyl as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), but the TSO is set to expire in March."