[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 109 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 139. Mr. SCHUMER (for Mr. Cruz (for himself and Ms. Cantwell)) 
proposed an amendment to 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 
follows:

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Testing, Rapid Analysis, and 
     Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023'' or the ``TRANQ 
     Research Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. XYLAZINE DETECTION AND ANALYSIS.

       (a) 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) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology.
       (4) 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).
       (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.
       (b) In General.--The Director shall--
       (1) support intramural basic measurement science and 
     research of the Institute to advance--
       (A) analytical methods to identify, understand, 
     differentiate, and categorize substances containing xylazine, 
     novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive 
     substances;
       (B) measurement technologies to shorten analysis timelines 
     and enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis 
     capabilities;
       (C) new data tools, techniques, and processes to identify 
     and publicly disclose relevant information concerning 
     substances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or 
     other new psychoactive substances; and
       (D) such other areas as the Director determines to be 
     critical to the development and deployment of technologies to 
     measure and analyze the presence of xylazine, novel synthetic 
     opioids, and other new psychoactive substances;
       (2) support activities to inform and expand the development 
     of near-real time spectrometry capabilities regarding 
     xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new psychoactive 
     substances;
       (3) convene and consult with organizations engaged in the 
     analysis of new psychoactive substances to develop 
     coordinated strategies and voluntary best practices for the 
     safe handling, transport, data-sharing, and analysis of 
     substances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or 
     other new psychoactive substances, including--
       (A) the Drug Enforcement Administration;
       (B) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
       (C) the National Institute on Drug Abuse;
       (D) Federal laboratories;
       (E) States and territories;
       (F) State fusion centers;
       (G) the private sector;
       (H) intergovernmental organizations;
       (I) institutions of higher education, and
       (J) nonprofit organizations;
       (4) establish or expand collaborative partnerships or 
     consortia with other government agencies and persons engaged 
     in related research and development, such as institutions of 
     higher education, Federal laboratories, public health 
     agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and the private 
     sector, to enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis 
     capabilities regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and 
     other new psychoactive substances; and
       (5) encourage graduate and post-graduate research to 
     include detection and identification of xylazine and other 
     new psychoactive substances in relevant course studies when 
     practicable.
       (c) Controls.--In carrying out activities under this 
     section, the Director shall ensure proper security controls 
     are implemented to protect sensitive information, as the 
     Director considers appropriate and consistent with applicable 
     provisions of law.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
     the House of Representatives a report on the implementation 
     of this section. Such report may include recommendations for 
     legislative action to improve the ability of the Director to 
     carry out this section.

     SEC. 3. STUDY ON UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGIES AND 
                   ANALYTICAL METHODS TO DETECT AND IDENTIFY NEW 
                   PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study of the capabilities of the 
     Federal Government to respond to the threats of new 
     psychoactive substances such as xylazine.
       (2) Matters evaluated.--The study conducted pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) shall include an evaluation of the following:
       (A) The capabilities, including technologies and analytical 
     methods, of Federal, State, and local agencies to detect and 
     identify new psychoactive substances such as xylazine.
       (B) An analysis of timeframes for identification and 
     development of technologies and methods to identify new 
     psychoactive substances by Federal, State, and local 
     agencies.
       (C) Facilities, including laboratories, used by Federal, 
     State, and local agencies for the identification of new 
     psychoactive substances such as xylazine.
       (D) Federal grant programs to fund new technology 
     development to detect and identify new psychoactive 
     substances.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
     to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology of the House of Representatives a report 
     containing the findings of the Comptroller General with 
     respect to the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a).

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