[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2149-H2151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TESTING, RAPID ANALYSIS, AND NARCOTIC QUALITY RESEARCH ACT

  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1734) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1734

       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 ``Testing, Rapid Analysis, and 
     Narcotic Quality Research Act'' or the ``TRANQ Research 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. XYLAZINE DETECTION AND ANALYSIS.

       (a) In General.--The Director shall--
       (1) support NIST intramural basic measurement science and 
     research to advance--
       (A) analytical methods to identify, understand, 
     differentiate, and categorize illicit drugs containing 
     xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other emerging 
     substances of concern;
       (B) measurement technologies to shorten analysis timelines 
     and enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis 
     capabilities in illicit drugs;
       (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
       (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;
       (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;
       (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;
       (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
       (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.
       (b) Controls.--In carrying out activities authorized under 
     this section, the Director shall ensure proper security 
     controls are implemented to protect sensitive information, as 
     appropriate.
       (c) 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) 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).
       (4) NIST.--The term ``NIST'' means the National Institute 
     of Standards and Technology.
       (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.

     SEC. 3. REPORT.

       Not later that 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate a report on the implementation of this Act. Such 
     report may include legislative recommendations to improve the 
     Director's ability to carry out section 2.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1734, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1734, the TRANQ Research 
Act, led by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) and the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Caraveo).
  Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the destruction opioids 
like fentanyl are causing our communities. Now these drugs are being 
mixed with animal tranquilizers to create deadly new combinations.
  Drugs like tranq are presenting new challenges for law enforcement, 
healthcare professionals, and first responders. Without a better 
understanding of this drug, we cannot slow

[[Page H2150]]

its spread, combat its effects, or ensure safe handling.
  The National Institute of Standards and Technology, known as NIST, 
has already done extraordinary work on fentanyl detection, and this 
bill allows them to apply their resources and expertise to analyzing 
these new variants. With NIST's help, we will improve our ability to 
detect and identify these drugs and improve the tools available to keep 
first responders and law enforcement safe when dealing with them.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1734, the TRANQ 
Research Act, a bill that I was proud to cosponsor, but I need to thank 
especially our colleagues, Representatives Yadira Caraveo and  Mike 
Collins, for leading this legislation, as well as Chairman Frank Lucas 
for his support.
  Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, have taken a terrible toll on 
communities all across the country, including in my own district. 
Fentanyl is now involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any 
other cause of death.

                              {time}  1815

  As if the opioid epidemic wasn't bad enough already, our communities 
now have to deal with various chemicals being added to these drugs that 
``enhance'' their effects and make them harder to detect.
  One chemical that criminals have started to use is a common animal 
tranquilizer called xylazine. When added to fentanyl, this animal 
tranquilizer can have terrible side effects, including horrible wounds 
at the injection site.
  These additives are also consequential to our first responders and to 
law enforcement as they deal with these drugs on the street. Drug 
mixtures usually contain a very small amount of synthetic opioids, 
which makes it difficult to detect and hard to identify new variants. 
Even small amounts of some drugs can be dangerous for law enforcement 
and public health officials to handle.
  This bill would address these challenges by leveraging NIST's unique 
research capabilities to help develop technologies to quickly 
characterize and safely handle street drugs.
  For decades, NIST, the Nation's measurement laboratory, has helped to 
provide safe and effective drug detection techniques and handling 
practices. NIST also collects and analyzes drug samples in circulation 
to help health authorities, as well as law enforcement, better respond 
to this crisis. This bill would codify, as well as enhance, those 
ongoing efforts.
  This is a fantastic example of how we can activate the unique 
expertise in our government laboratories to benefit communities across 
the country. We can use science to make law enforcement and first 
responders safer and help fight this drug epidemic.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Collins) to speak on his bill.
  Mr. COLLINS. Madam Speaker, I thank my fellow freshman colleague for 
yielding a few extra minutes, seeing as I am from Georgia and he is 
from Ohio, and I don't talk as fast.
  Madam Speaker, I also thank Representative Caraveo, Chairman Lucas, 
Ranking Member Lofgren, and the other members of the Science, Space, 
and Technology Committee who have joined 22 of their colleagues in 
cosponsoring this commonsense bill.
  I rise to call on my colleagues to support H.R. 1734, the TRANQ 
Research Act. This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, NIST, to analyze and advance research on dangerous fentanyl 
additives that are putting our public safety officers' lives at risk, 
including those who are guarding our borders.
  As we have seen, fentanyl has been entering our country at record 
levels over the past 2 years. Now, we are seeing even more harmful 
chemicals like tranq being added to an already deadly drug. You see, 
tranq is a deadly substance. It contains a veterinary tranquilizer, 
xylazine, which, when combined with fentanyl, becomes deadlier than the 
fentanyl itself.
  These drug traffickers dealing in tranq are following the same 
playbook that they used when fentanyl first flooded the United States. 
It took us too long to recognize the dangers of fentanyl once it was 
first detected, putting the lives of first responders and everyday 
Americans at risk. These are mistakes we simply can't afford to make 
with this new drug.
  As a matter of fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration reports that 
between 2020 and 2021, detections of tranq in fentanyl increased nearly 
200 percent in the Southern United States. Those numbers continue to 
rise, and first responders are struggling to keep up.
  This bill is one step in fighting dangerous fentanyl additives. By 
understanding what these additives are, how to test for them, and how 
to safely handle them, we can better protect our first responders.
  NIST has a long history of partnering with State and local agencies 
to protect frontline workers from dangerous substances. The agency has 
developed new drug detection and identification tools that are used in 
the field today. It is also a frequent partner of law enforcement, 
providing analytical services when they come across new substances.
  NIST has also helped create drug handling practices that have become 
the gold standard for keeping law enforcement officers safe when they 
have to handle fentanyl and other drugs. These are exactly the kind of 
efforts we should be making with tranq and other novel synthetic 
opioids that are hitting the market.
  This is a commonsense bill that will allow NIST to focus its work on 
tranq and help us to better understand the rise of fentanyl additives 
plaguing our communities.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Colorado (Ms. Caraveo) and recognize her leadership on this matter.
  Ms. CARAVEO. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lofgren for 
yielding time.
  Today, I am proud to stand in strong support of the Testing, Rapid 
Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act that I introduced with my 
colleague from Georgia, Representative  Mike Collins.
  In recent months, criminals have turned to xylazine, a common animal 
tranquilizer, to make fentanyl. If injected, this drug can have 
horrible side effects, including large wounds at the injection site.
  As a doctor, I have seen firsthand the horrific impact of the drug 
crisis on our families and communities.
  Addictive, dangerous substances like opioids have wreaked havoc in 
Colorado, where we are now losing approximately 2,000 Coloradans a year 
to fentanyl and meth overdoses. These numbers are likely to worsen with 
the emergence of xylazine.
  Our bipartisan legislation directs the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology to make it easier and faster to detect drugs 
containing xylazine and novel synthetic opioids. It also supports the 
development of safe handling processes to protect law enforcement 
officers and forensic chemists from this dangerous substance.

  This effort will ensure our first responders have the support that 
they need to detect, identify, and better understand synthetic opioids 
and ultimately help save American lives.
  At a time of deep division in our country, I am encouraged by the 
bipartisan support to address this next wave of the drug crisis.
  I thank Representative Collins for working with me to introduce this 
bill and Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Lofgren for their help in 
bringing it to the House floor. I also thank Senators Welch and Cruz 
for spearheading this effort in the Senate.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Stevens), a valued member of our committee.
  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, for everyone watching back at home, H.R.

[[Page H2151]]

1734 is bipartisan lawmaking at its best.
  A new Member of Congress, Mr. Collins of Georgia, the chair of the 
Subcommittee on Research and Technology of the House Science Committee, 
a subcommittee I was privileged to serve as the chair of for two terms, 
and the brilliant Ms. Caraveo, another new Member of Congress from 
Colorado, came together to tackle an opioid epidemic plaguing the 
American people, plaguing youth, to get in front of tranq.
  This is why the Science Committee, for everyone watching back at 
home, is so very important. We are utilizing NIST, the standards agency 
of the United States of America, to make sure that we can track and 
tackle these insidious drugs that are in our streets, that are in our 
neighborhoods, and that are in our homes.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Caraveo, Mr. Collins, and the leadership 
of this committee.
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I am ready to close, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close and yield myself 
the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, this is another example of how the Science Committee 
can successfully follow our history of bipartisan work for the well-
being of our country--two freshmen coming together for something that 
is important.
  Madam Speaker, I also will mention that Representative Caraveo is not 
just Representative Caraveo. She is Dr. Caraveo. She comes with 
significant expertise to this body and especially to the Science 
Committee. We are grateful to her constituents for sending her to us.
  She, like Mr. Collins, has only been here several months, but she has 
already shown leadership, a focus on law enforcement and health, and a 
real willingness to work on a bipartisan basis to solve problems that 
face our country.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Representatives Collins and Caraveo for their 
hard work, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Madam Speaker, as we have heard today, this zombie drug has gruesome 
side effects and is leading to an alarming rate of overdose deaths.
  Overdose deaths involving tranq have increased in all regions of the 
United States, according to the DEA. From 2020 to 2021, these deaths 
surged 100 percent in the Northeast, more than 500 percent in the 
Midwest, and 750 percent in the West, as well as skyrocketing by more 
than 1,100 percent in the South.
  Our first responders need every tool they can get to identify and to 
fight this growing epidemic of synthetic drugs. H.R. 1734 will 
authorize NIST to give them those tools by expanding real-time analysis 
capabilities to frontline workers like law enforcement and EMTs.
  This legislation was favorably reported out of the Science, Space, 
and Technology Committee by a vote of 36-0. It is bipartisan and 
addresses a critical issue every district in the Nation is facing.
  I thank Representatives Collins and Caraveo for their leadership on 
this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support 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 Ohio (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1734, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam 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.

                          ____________________