[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9369-H9370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SYNTHETIC OPIOID EXPOSURE PREVENTION AND TRAINING ACT
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4739) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
protect U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, agents, other
personnel, and canines against potential synthetic opioid exposure, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4739
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 ``Synthetic Opioid Exposure
Prevention and Training Act''.
SEC. 2. PROTECTION AGAINST POTENTIAL SYNTHETIC OPIOID
EXPOSURE WITHIN U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION.
(a) In General.--Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 415 the following new section:
``SEC. 416. PROTECTION AGAINST POTENTIAL SYNTHETIC OPIOID
EXPOSURE.
``(a) In General.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection shall issue a policy that specifies
effective protocols and procedures for the safe handling of
potential synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers, agents, other
personnel, and canines, and to reduce the risk of injury or
death resulting from accidental exposure and enhance post-
exposure management.
``(b) Training.--
``(1) In general.--Together with the issuance of the policy
described in subsection (a), the Commissioner of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection shall require mandatory and recurrent
training on the following:
``(A) The potential risk of opioid exposure and safe
handling procedures for potential synthetic opioids,
including precautionary measures such as the use of personal
protective equipment during such handling.
``(B) How to access and administer opioid receptor
antagonists, including naloxone, post-exposure to potential
synthetic opioids.
``(2) Integration.--The training described in paragraph (1)
may be integrated into existing training under section 411(l)
for U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, agents, and
other personnel.
``(c) Personal Protective Equipment and Opioid Receptor
Antagonists.--Together with the issuance of the policy
described in subsection (a), the Commissioner of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection shall ensure the availability of
personal protective equipment and opioid receptor
antagonists, including naloxone, to all U.S. Customs and
Border Protection officers, agents, other personnel, and
canines at risk of accidental exposure to synthetic opioids.
``(d) Oversight.--To ensure effectiveness of the policy
described in subsection (a)--
``(1) the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection shall regularly monitor the efficacy of the
implementation of such policy and adjust protocols and
procedures, as necessary; and
``(2) the Inspector General of the Department shall audit
compliance with the requirements of this section not less
than once each year for the five years after the date of the
enactment of this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 415 the
following new item:
``Sec. 416. Protection against potential synthetic opioid exposure.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Clarke) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be speaking on behalf of my bill, the
Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention and Training Act.
We are at a crucial time in our fight against the opioid crisis in
our Nation. Less expensive and extremely lethal synthetic, chemically
laced, and derived drugs, rather than first-generation opioid
pharmaceuticals, now drive the addiction and overdoses that cripple and
break the hearts of the neighbors and families of our communities.
We must respond to this changed dynamic in the ongoing opioid crisis
with legislation targeted at reducing harm and saving lives.
Most of these deadly synthetics, such as fentanyl, are imported into
our country. This bill addresses a specific threat by seeking to
eliminate the risk of accidental exposure to synthetics for the workers
screening packages and cargo entering our country.
Much of this screening occurs only a few miles from the neighborhoods
I represent in New York's seaports and at the JFK International
Airport's International Mail Facility, the largest mail-screening
facility in America, where, every day, we are finding fentanyl hidden
in packages from places like China.
Whether cargo and packages are screened by CBP personnel near my
district or thousands of miles away, this bill is directly relevant to
the lives of my constituents. Unfortunately, these dangerous and
illegally manufactured substances get distributed in communities like
mine. This is, of course, true for every district across this country.
The universal threat posed by synthetic opioids is reflected by my
Democratic and Republican colleagues joining together as cosponsors of
this bill. I am grateful for their support and hope that we can
continue to fight the opioid crisis as a united and determined
legislative body.
While there is much left to do on this front, H.R. 4739 takes crucial
steps toward enhancing our ability to shut down the importation of
synthetic opioids. It requires that training for CBP personnel on
synthetics be regularly reviewed and updated to respond to the
developing threat environment. This includes making sure workers know
how to properly handle synthetic opioids and how to administer the
reversal drugs, which can save lives if accidental exposure occurs.
Furthermore, my bill requires CBP to ensure that these reversal drugs
are in hand at facilities where opioid screenings happen. Fentanyl,
according to the CDC, is up to 100 times more potent than morphine or
even heroin. Even the smallest dose can kill unless drugs like naloxone
are available and quickly administered.
If the workers screening packages for substances like fentanyl don't
have the training and tools they need to be confident they can do their
job safely, more of these deadly opioids will make their way into our
communities, and more families will be added to the opioid crisis list
of victims.
I ask each of my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, the
Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention and Training Act.
I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, November 20, 2019.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: In recognition of the desire to
expedite consideration of H.R. 4739, the Synthetic Opioid
Exposure Prevention and Training Act, the Committee on Ways
and Means agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as
to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the
Committee on Ways and Means.
The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the
mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction
over the subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately
consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation
moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues
within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the
right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or
similar legislation.
Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter
confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of
our exchange of
[[Page H9370]]
letter on this matter be included in the Congressional Record
during floor consideration of H.R. 4739.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Neal,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, November 21, 2019.
Hon. Richard Neal,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Neal: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 4739, the ``Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention and
Training Act.'' The Committee on Homeland Security recognizes
that the Committee on Ways and Means has a jurisdictional
interest in H.R. 4739, and I appreciate your effort to allow
this bill to be considered on the House floor.
I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not
in any way prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with
respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or
similar legislation in the future, and I would support your
effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this
legislation.
I will include our letters on H.R. 4739 in the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill.
I look forward to working with you on this legislation and
other matters of great importance to this nation.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman.
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4739 because of the valuable impact it
will have on Customs and Border Protection officer safety.
The opioid epidemic continues to wreak havoc on communities across
the Nation. It touches people from every age group, race, class,
gender, and background. Parents are losing their children; children are
losing their parents. It is devastating.
Illegally manufactured opioids from China and Mexico are pouring into
the United States through our mail system and across our borders. The
first line of defense against these illicit substances is the brave men
and women of Customs and Border Protection. They work tirelessly every
day to protect us, and we must make sure they have the equipment and
training they need to do it safely.
The safe handling of opioids by CBP law enforcement officers is
crucial, as just 2 milligrams can be lethal. H.R. 4739 requires the
Commissioner of CBP to establish and regularly update a policy for the
safe handling of synthetic opioids by officers, agents, canines, and
other personnel.
The bill also requires that protective equipment and opioid receptor
antagonists be made available for all relevant CBP employees and
canines. When it comes to officer safety, we should never consider
ourselves too careful.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the Congresswoman aware that I have
no further speakers on this bill, and I am prepared to close.
I urge the adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, transnational criminal organizations are constantly
developing new forms of synthetic opioids and new methods for smuggling
these drugs into our country. To combat such activity, Congress must
ensure that CBP officers serving on the front lines are protected from
accidental exposure.
This bill is one step of many that must be taken to slow the opioid
crisis and end the devastation brought to our communities by this
epidemic. By protecting the CBP officers and agents who operate as our
frontline defenders against the importation of synthetics, this bill
ensures that they will remain safe and equipped to respond to the
constantly changing threat posed by synthetic opioids.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4739, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4739.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________