[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1280 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 286
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1280
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 25, 2023
Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Welch, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Warnock, Mrs.
Blackburn, and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
December 13, 2023
Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Testing, Rapid Analysis,
and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023'' or the ``TRANQ Research Act
of 2023''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. XYLAZINE DETECTION AND ANALYSIS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means the
National Institute of Standards and Technology.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) In General.--The Director shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) support intramural basic measurement science
and research of the Institute to advance--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) analytical methods to identify,
understand, differentiate, and categorize illicit drugs
containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other
emerging substances of concern;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) measurement technologies to shorten
analysis timelines and enhance narcotic and opioid
detection and analysis capabilities in illicit
drugs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) new data tools, techniques, and
processes to identify and publicly disclose relevant
information concerning illicit drugs containing
xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other emerging
substances of concern; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) all other areas determined by the
Director to be critical to the development and
deployment of technologies to measure and analyze the
presence of xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and
other emerging substances of concern in illicit
drugs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) support activities to inform and expand the
development of near-real time spectrometry capabilities
regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other emerging
compounds in illicit drugs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) convene the private sector, institutions of
higher education, nonprofit organizations, Federal
laboratories, and other Federal agencies engaged in the
analysis of illicit drugs to develop coordinated strategies and
voluntary best practices for the safe handling, transport, and
analysis of illicit drugs containing xylazine, novel synthetic
opioids, or other emerging substances of concern;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) establish or expand collaborative partnerships
or consortia with other government agencies engaged in
counternarcotic research and development, institutions of
higher education, Federal laboratories, and the private sector
to enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis
capabilities regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and
other emerging substances of concern in illicit drugs;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) provide opportunities for graduate and
postgraduate research on the detection and identification of
xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other emerging
substances of concern in illicit drugs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Controls.--In carrying out activities under this
section, the Director shall ensure proper security controls are
implemented to protect sensitive information, as appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
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
emerging substances of concern 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 Transportation and the House Committee on Science a report
containing the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to the
study conducted pursuant to subsection (a).
Calendar No. 286
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1280
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 13, 2023
Reported with an amendment