[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2142 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2142

    To improve the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to 
 interdict fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and 
  psychoactive substances that are illegally imported into the United 
                    States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 2017

Ms. Tsongas (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To improve the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to 
 interdict fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and 
  psychoactive substances that are illegally imported into the United 
                    States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``International Narcotics Trafficking 
Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology 
Act'' or the ``INTERDICT Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Chemical screening device.--The term ``chemical 
        screening device'' means an infrared spectrophotometer, mass 
        spectrometer, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, Raman 
        spectrophotometer, or other scientific instrumentation able to 
        collect data that can be interpreted to determine the presence 
        of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and 
        psychoactive substances.
            (2) Express consignment operator or carrier.--The term 
        ``express consignment operator or carrier'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 128.1 of title 19, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (or any similar successor regulation).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security.

SEC. 3. INTERDICTION OF FENTANYL, OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS, AND OTHER 
              NARCOTICS AND PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES.

    (a) Chemical Screening Devices.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall--
            (1) increase the number of chemical screening devices 
        available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the number 
        of such devices that are available on the date of the enactment 
        of this Act; and
            (2) make such additional chemical screening devices 
        available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection as the 
        Secretary determines are necessary for U.S. Customs and Border 
        Protection to carry out activities to interdict fentanyl, other 
        synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive 
        substances that are illegally imported into the United States, 
        including such substances that are imported through the mail or 
        by an express consignment operator or carrier.
    (b) Personnel To Interpret Data.--The Secretary shall dedicate the 
appropriate number of personnel, including scientists, to U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection so that personnel are available during all 
operational hours to interpret data collected by chemical screening 
devices.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
$15,000,000 to ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protection--
            (1) has sufficient resources and personnel, including 
        scientists, available during all operational hours to prevent 
        the unlawful importation of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, 
        and other narcotics and psychoactive substances; and
            (2) is provided with sufficient chemical screening devices 
        to facilitate the effective and efficient detection and 
        identification of such substances.
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