PRIORITIES: Biden’s Budget Mentions Fentanyl Twice, ‘queer’ 7 Times; Homeland Security Seizes 900 Pounds of Fentanyl in One Week at Border, and related stories

Biden’s budget mentions fentanyl twice, ‘queer’ 7 times:

Queer’ mentioned 7 times in president’s budget, ‘transgender’ appeared 8 times

President Joe Biden’s political priorities are on display with his new 2024 budget that mentions “fentanyl” twice and “queer” seven times.

Biden unveiled his new budget proposal ahead of an expected battle with the House GOP, and it is clear which priorities are getting the most attention.

The president’s budget mentions “equity” 63 times in the document while “fentanyl” — the synthetic opioid destroying American communities — was only mentioned twice.

The mentions of “equity” vary in scope in the document, ranging from “racial equity” to equity for veterans and in health care.

“On his first day in office, the President signed a sweeping Executive Order directing the entire Federal Government to advance an ambitious equity and racial justice agenda—not as a one-year project, but as part of a sustained commitment to make the promise of America real for every American,” the document reads.

“Since then, the Administration has made significant progress advancing equity across the Federal Government, including by releasing a second Executive Order that strengthens its ability to create opportunities for communities and populations that have been historically underserved, and continues to build an America in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential,” it continues. —>READ MORE HERE

Homeland Security seizes 900 pounds of fentanyl in one week at border:

The Department of Homeland Security seized 900 pounds of fentanyl on the southern border in the first week of its new initiative to crack down on the deadly synthetic opioid.

The drug seizure was one of the largest made in a single week recently by Customs and Border Protection officials and took place after the launch of Homeland Security’s Operation Blue Lotus on March 13.

Seven hundred pounds of methamphetamine and over 100 pounds of cocaine were also seized, according to DHS. The operation deployed extra canine units and advanced technology to conduct 18 seizures, 16 federal arrests and two state arrests.

The move was part of “a multi-pronged strategy” by the Biden administration “to combat the scourge of fentanyl,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

“In the past two years, DHS has seized more fentanyl than the previous five years combined. But we must do more,” Mayorkas said. “Operation Blue Lotus is a DHS-led, coordinated surge effort to curtail the flow of illicit fentanyl smuggled into the United States from Mexico and bring to justice the dangerous criminal organizations profiting from the illegal production, distribution, and sale of this dangerous substance.”

Critics have pointed to President Biden’s permissive border policy for allowing fentanyl to flow freely into the US, prompting some Republican lawmakers to call for a military response against the dangerous drug cartels in Mexico. —>READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to related stories:

DEA issues public warning for dangerous widespread fentanyl mix

Lawmakers sound the alarm over fentanyl-laced pills sold at Mexican pharmacies

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