BUFFALO, N.Y. --  U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy said he's made an effort since taking office to show solidarity with law enforcement and is prioritizing securing resources.

On Thursday, he toured facilities and spoke with the Erie County Sheriff's Office about its needs.

"We're here to talk about the total assets of the department, whether it's facilities, whether it's equipment, whether it's training, whatever we can tap into, we want to get to work," Langworthy said.

A large portion of the conversation surrounded increasing concern over the fentanyl scourge. Sheriff John Garcia, a Republican, said it is continuing to get worse and he's looking for ways not just to keep the deadly drug out of his community, but also his jails.

"It's much more prevalent because fentanyl is so much cheaper than buying a kilo of heroin or buying a kilo of cocaine," Garcia said.

Langworthy said the way the federal government can help with the issue is to better secure the southern and northern borders where he says the cartel is bringing the drug into the country.

"Every state in America is now a border state because of this fentanyl crisis," he said. "It's here and our northern border is vulnerable too."

Garcia said the sheriff's office assists federal agencies patrolling 90 miles of county coastline along the border with boats and its helicopter. However, he said a new helicopter is one of the office's biggest current needs.

"It's unsafe. It's a single engine, 22-year helicopter. It's not a shiny toy that I want to add to the office. It's something that's necessary and it's going to save lives and we see it every day that it does save lives," Garcia said.

Garcia and Langworthy said they don't know exactly what the cost will be at the moment but the office may need state and federal funding. The congressman said one option they are looking into is whether they could secure one from military surplus.