[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1734 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]
<DOC>
In the Senate of the United States,
June 22, 2023.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R.
1734) entitled ``An Act to require coordinated National Institute of
Standards and Technology science and research activities regarding
illicit drugs containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other
substances of concern, and for other purposes.'', do pass with the
following
AMENDMENT:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Testing, Rapid Analysis, and
Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023'' or the ``TRANQ Research Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. XYLAZINE DETECTION AND ANALYSIS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(2) Federal laboratory.--The term ``Federal laboratory''
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703).
(3) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means the National
Institute of Standards and Technology.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (19
U.S.C. 1001).
(5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from
tax under section 501(a) of such code.
(6) Xylazine.--The term ``xylazine'' means the nonopioid
tranquilizer methyl benzene compound frequently used in
veterinary medicine as an emetic and sedative with analgesic
and muscle relaxant properties.
(b) In General.--The Director shall--
(1) support intramural basic measurement science and
research of the Institute to advance--
(A) analytical methods to identify, understand,
differentiate, and categorize substances containing
xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new
psychoactive substances;
(B) measurement technologies to shorten analysis
timelines and enhance narcotic and opioid detection and
analysis capabilities;
(C) new data tools, techniques, and processes to
identify and publicly disclose relevant information
concerning substances containing xylazine, novel
synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive
substances; and
(D) such other areas as the Director determines to
be critical to the development and deployment of
technologies to measure and analyze the presence of
xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new
psychoactive substances;
(2) support activities to inform and expand the development
of near-real time spectrometry capabilities regarding xylazine,
novel synthetic opioids, and other new psychoactive substances;
(3) convene and consult with organizations engaged in the
analysis of new psychoactive substances to develop coordinated
strategies and voluntary best practices for the safe handling,
transport, data-sharing, and analysis of substances containing
xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive
substances, including--
(A) the Drug Enforcement Administration;
(B) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
(C) the National Institute on Drug Abuse;
(D) Federal laboratories;
(E) States and territories;
(F) State fusion centers;
(G) the private sector;
(H) intergovernmental organizations;
(I) institutions of higher education, and
(J) nonprofit organizations;
(4) establish or expand collaborative partnerships or
consortia with other government agencies and persons engaged in
related research and development, such as institutions of
higher education, Federal laboratories, public health agencies,
intergovernmental organizations, and the private sector, to
enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis capabilities
regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new
psychoactive substances; and
(5) encourage graduate and post-graduate research to
include detection and identification of xylazine and other new
psychoactive substances in relevant course studies when
practicable.
(c) Controls.--In carrying out activities under this section, the
Director shall ensure proper security controls are implemented to
protect sensitive information, as the Director considers appropriate
and consistent with applicable provisions of law.
(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the
implementation of this section. Such report may include recommendations
for legislative action to improve the ability of the Director to carry
out this section.
SEC. 3. STUDY ON UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGIES AND ANALYTICAL
METHODS TO DETECT AND IDENTIFY NEW PSYCHOACTIVE
SUBSTANCES.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study of the capabilities of the Federal
Government to respond to the threats of new psychoactive
substances such as xylazine.
(2) Matters evaluated.--The study conducted pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall include an evaluation of the following:
(A) The capabilities, including technologies and
analytical methods, of Federal, State, and local
agencies to detect and identify new psychoactive
substances such as xylazine.
(B) An analysis of timeframes for identification
and development of technologies and methods to identify
new psychoactive substances by Federal, State, and
local agencies.
(C) Facilities, including laboratories, used by
Federal, State, and local agencies for the
identification of new psychoactive substances such as
xylazine.
(D) Federal grant programs to fund new technology
development to detect and identify new psychoactive
substances.
(b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a
report containing the findings of the Comptroller General with respect
to the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a).
Attest:
Secretary.
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H.R. 1734
_______________________________________________________________________
AMENDMENT