[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.

                          ____________________