[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5267-H5269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       JOINT TASK FORCE TO COMBAT OPIOID TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2018

  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5762) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
authorize a Joint Task Force to enhance integration of the Department 
of Homeland Security's border security operations to detect, interdict, 
disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic 
opioids, from entering the United States, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5762

       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 ``Joint Task Force to Combat 
     Opioid Trafficking Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF JOINT TASK FORCE TO COUNTER OPIOIDS.

       Section 708 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     348) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by adding at the end the 
     following new clause:
       ``(iv) Enhancing the integration of the Department's border 
     security operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and 
     prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic 
     opioids, from entering the United States.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (13) as 
     paragraphs (11) through (15), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(9) Engagement with the private sector.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Director of a Joint Task Force may 
     engage with representatives from a private sector 
     organization for the purpose of carrying out the mission of 
     such Joint Task Force, and any such engagement shall not be 
     subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
     App.).
       ``(B) Assistance from private sector.--
       ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1), the 
     Secretary, with the agreement of a private sector 
     organization, may arrange for the temporary assignment of an 
     employee of such organization to a Joint Task Force in 
     accordance with this paragraph.
       ``(ii) Agreement.--The Secretary shall provide for a 
     written agreement between the Department, the private sector 
     organization concerned, and the employee concerned regarding 
     the terms and conditions of the assignment of such employee 
     under this paragraph.
       ``(C) No financial liability.--Any agreement under this 
     paragraph shall require the private sector organization 
     concerned to be responsible for all costs associated with the 
     assignment of an employee under this paragraph.
       ``(D) Duration.--An assignment under this paragraph may, at 
     any time and for any reason, be terminated by the Secretary 
     or the private sector organization concerned and shall be for 
     a total period of not more than two years.
       ``(10) Collaboration with task forces outside dhs.--The 
     Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding by 
     which a Joint Task Force established under this section to 
     carry out any purpose specified in subsection (b)(2)(A) and 
     any other Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, or 
     international entity or task force established for a similar 
     purpose may collaborate for the purpose of carrying out the 
     mission of such Joint Task Force.''.

     SEC. 3. NOTIFICATION; REPORTING.

       (a) Notification.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall--

[[Page H5268]]

       (1) make a determination regarding whether to establish a 
     Joint Task Force under section 708 of the Homeland Security 
     Act of 2002 to carry out the purpose specified in clause (iv) 
     of subsection (b)(2)(A) of such section, as added by section 
     2 of this Act; and
       (2) submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
     House and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate written notification of such 
     determination, including, if such determination is in the 
     negative, information on the basis for such negative 
     determination.
       (b) Reporting.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     establishes a Joint Task Force under section 708 of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 to carry out the purpose 
     specified in clause (iv) of subsection (b)(2)(A) of such 
     section, as added by section 2 of this Act, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (1) beginning with the first report required under 
     subsection (b)(6)(F) of such section 708, include with 
     respect to such a Joint Task Force--
       (A) a gap analysis of funding, personnel, technology, or 
     other resources needed in order to detect, interdict, 
     disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other 
     synthetic opioids, from entering the United States; and
       (B) a description of collaboration pursuant to subsection 
     (b)(10) of such section (as added by section 2 of this Act) 
     between such a Joint Task Force and any other Federal, State, 
     local, tribal, territorial, or international task force, 
     including the United States Postal Service and the United 
     States Postal Inspection Service; and
       (2) in each report required under subsection (b)(11)(C) of 
     section 708 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as 
     redesignated by section 2 of this Act, an assessment of the 
     activities of such a Joint Task Force, including an 
     evaluation of whether such Joint Task Force has enhanced 
     integration of the Department's efforts, created any unique 
     capabilities, or otherwise enhanced operational 
     effectiveness, coordination, or information sharing to 
     detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as 
     fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering the 
     United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities 
across this Nation every day. One hundred fifteen Americans die every 
single day from an opioid overdose. Opioid abuse doesn't discriminate. 
It touches people from every age group, race, class, gender, and 
background.

                              {time}  1700

  In my home State of New York, more than 3,000 lives were lost in 2016 
alone. Mr. Speaker, 3,000.
  Some Americans are becoming addicted after taking doctor-prescribed 
doses for an injury or surgery. Others are trying them in illicit forms 
and are becoming addicted. Opioids are highly addictive and 
overprescribed. It is a major part of this epidemic.
  Another disturbing trend we are seeing is illicit drugs being laced 
with fentanyl, which is 100 times more powerful than morphine, leading 
to accidental overdoses. I have seen estimates concluding that more 
than 2 million of our fellow Americans are addicted to opioids. Too 
many lives have been lost, and too many families have been destroyed.
  As we work to confront the epidemic, we must prevent the abuse of 
opioids, stop the flow of opioids into the United States, and treat 
those Americans who have become addicted. Last week, the House passed 
35 bills to address the opioid epidemic through stronger prevention, 
treatment, and enforcement activities. Today, we continue that work.
  H.R. 5762 would further enable law enforcement to stop the flow of 
opioids such as fentanyl from entering the United States. This bill 
would create a joint task force within the Department of Homeland 
Security to organize opioid interdiction efforts across multiple 
components and agencies. The task force would coordinate the assets and 
personnel of Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Coast Guard, and 
other resources to track, interdict, and prevent the illicit flow of 
opioids through the United States in a unity of effort campaign.
  It will also leverage domestic and international partners to provide 
a multifaceted approach to tackling this issue. Most illicit opioids 
are produced in China, being smuggled by mail, where vulnerabilities in 
the postal system are exploited. We are also seeing increased traffic 
from Mexico, with opioids hidden in vehicles and cargo entering through 
our ports of entry.
  The joint task force approach to the opioid epidemic is effective 
because it fosters information sharing and exchange between all 
relevant stakeholders to combat the opioid epidemic.
  There is no quick or easy solution to this epidemic, though H.R. 5762 
is a step in the right direction. It empowers the Department of 
Homeland Security and its mission partners to tackle the opioid crisis 
head-on by organizing a joint task force focused on preventing opioids 
from reaching our communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will 
join me in voting for H.R. 5762, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5762, the Joint Task Force to 
Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2018.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from 
New York, Chairman Donovan, for his kind and strong words of support 
for this bill. This has been a truly bipartisan effort on the 
committee, and I thank the gentleman for his work on this and for his 
support.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a public health emergency 
that is devastating communities across the country, including my home 
State of Rhode Island. No matter your race, gender, age, religion, or 
socioeconomic status, Americans are suffering from the opioid overdose 
epidemic.
  We know that approximately 42,000 fatalities were attributed to 
opioids in 2016, and we know that fentanyl is exacerbating the problem. 
This powerful synthetic opioid, which is 25 to 50 times stronger than 
heroin and 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, has caused 15 
times more deaths in Rhode Island during 2016 than in 2009.
  In its purest form as a powder, or as grains similar to the size of 
salt, fentanyl's lethal potency often harms people when unknowingly 
mixed with other illicit drugs, like heroin, or marketed on the street 
as a different substance entirely.
  Since the majority of opioids interdicted by the United States are 
seized at ports of entry and the southern border accounts for at least 
75 percent of all opioids collected, I am pleased to offer a solution 
that will strengthen the Department of Homeland Security's fight 
against this drug crisis. This bill authorizes the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to establish a task force to enhance the internal 
integration of the department's border security operations to detect, 
interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, including fentanyl, from 
entering the United States in the first place.
  Secretary Jeh Johnson was the first to use the joint task force model 
to achieve better unity of effort across the department's components 
when it comes to fulfilling the Homeland Security mission.
  All of DHS' many agencies, from Customs and Border Protection to the 
U.S. Coast Guard, have an important role to play when it comes to 
combating opioid trafficking, which makes the joint task force a 
particularly apt structure to address the crisis. If Homeland Security 
Investigations is looking into a fentanyl distribution ring in Omaha, 
they need to coordinate efforts with Customs offices in El Paso so that 
packages en route to Nebraska are properly inspected.
  The JTF model is intended to ensure this coordination is baked into 
the culture at the various components and that cases don't slip through 
the cracks. The goal is not to add red tape for the hardworking DHS 
personnel protecting our Nation but to keep them all on the same page 
as a single, unified effort. This coordination is worth it.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress recognized the value of Secretary Johnson's 
pilot

[[Page H5269]]

JTFs when we formally authorized them in 2016. As new challenges 
confront the department, we must make use of this organizational 
structure in innovative ways to maintain the synergies that drove the 
creation of DHS in the first place.
  Stopping the proliferation of fentanyl is particularly well suited to 
the JTF approach. Unlike many more traditional narcotics, fentanyl is 
often shipped directly to dealers from overseas. Fentanyl's extremely 
high potency allows these shipments to be small enough to go undetected 
unless carefully scrutinized.
  That is why it is essential that the joint task force on opioids 
collaborate with private-sector organizations and any other Federal, 
State, local, Tribal, territorial, or international entity to increase 
operational effectiveness, coordination, and information sharing.
  We need to work with partners, especially the United States Postal 
Service and private parcel delivery services like UPS and FedEx, to 
ensure suspicious packages are inspected. Having a single task force 
coordinating the department's efforts makes it much easier for other 
organizations to know to whom to go.
  The collaboration called for in this bill, combined with the 
implementation of Ms. Tsongas' INTERDICT Act, which focuses on drug 
detection technologies, will ensure that DHS is maximally effective in 
combating the flood of synthetic opioids trafficked into the United 
States.
  The crisis gripping our Nation, Mr. Speaker, is complex. We recognize 
that. We cannot succeed in stemming the opioid epidemic unless the 
Federal Government recognizes the opportunity to integrate and 
collaborate not only across agencies but also with our private-sector 
partners.
  I hope my colleagues will join this bipartisan effort to curb the 
prevalence of illicit opioids on our streets, in our communities, in 
our neighborhoods, and in our homes by supporting H.R. 5762.
  Mr. Speaker, now more than ever, we need to take action to curb the 
flow of synthetic opioids into America. The need plays out in tragedies 
around the country every day.
  Rhode Island's Brandon Goldner was just 23 years old when, after 
being revived seven times in a 2-month period, he tragically lost his 
life to an opioid overdose. Losing Brandon and so many others to 
opioids demands that we, as lawmakers, act quickly to reduce the stigma 
associated with drug use and ensure that there are adequate treatment 
options that are available.
  I am proud to come from a State that has developed a comprehensive 
strategy to combat the opioid crisis by supporting local and State 
partners at every level of education, treatment, and prevention through 
the creation of a statewide overdose prevention and intervention task 
force.
  This is a constant battle, and reducing the prevalence of opioids 
available to those who might use or abuse the substance is an important 
step that we can take today by passing this bill. Every one of my 
colleagues has their own Brandon story. Everyone has talked with 
grieving parents, children, friends, and coworkers.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the Committee on Homeland Security is 
doing its part to ensure that we bring a whole-of-government approach 
to combating this whole-of-society problem, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this bill.
  The bill before us today will enhance internal DHS operations, force 
the collaboration across Federal agencies, and develop partnerships 
with the private sector to limit opioids coming into our country and 
getting distributed throughout our communities.
  Like every bill that makes it to the floor, this legislation is the 
result of a collaborative effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I must thank Senator Claire McCaskill, who has been a 
true champion in driving policy to address the opioid crisis and who 
first proposed applying the JTF model to this epidemic. She has been a 
true leader on this issue.
  I also thank my good friend and long-time colleague on the committee 
and cosponsor, Congressman Peter King, who has helped ensure that this 
effort is a bipartisan one.
  Likewise, I owe a debt of gratitude to our ranking member, Mr. 
Thompson, and our chairman, Mr. McCaul, who worked with me in turn to 
make a good idea even better legislation.
  Like anything we do, nothing would have been possible without the 
tireless work of our staff, in particular that of Rosaline Cohen and 
Alex Carnes with the committee, and Elyssa Malin in my office.
  Mr. Speaker, I have said before that the opioid epidemic is 
incredibly complex. With the number of factors driving this tragic 
increase in overdoses, there is no silver bullet to this public health 
emergency. Rather, it demands a whole-of-society approach. This bill 
will bring that unity of effort to the Department of Homeland Security, 
so that it can be a more effective partner in turning the tide against 
opioid abuse.
  I hope all of my colleagues will join with me in supporting the 
creation of this joint task force and support this bill. Again, I thank 
Chairman Donovan, the gentleman from New York, for his words of support 
and his effort to see that this bill got to the floor in the first 
place. I hope to see it pass.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5762. I 
thank my friend from Rhode Island for his leadership on this bill, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5762, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________