[House Report 118-634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress }                                             { Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session    }                                             { 118-634

======================================================================



 
            DETECTION EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION 
              TO  COUNTER  THE  THREAT  OF  FENTANYL  AND 
              XYLAZINE ACT OF 2024

                                _______
                                

August 23, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

         Mr. Green of Tennessee, from the Committee on Homeland 
                    Security, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 8663]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 8663) to require the Science and Technology 
Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security to develop 
greater capacity to detect, identify, and disrupt illicit 
substances in very low concentrations, having considered the 
same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and 
recommends that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Hearings.........................................................     3
Committee Consideration..........................................     4
Committee Votes..................................................     4
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     4
C.B.O. Estimate, New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and 
  Tax Expenditures...............................................     4
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     9
Duplicative Federal Programs.....................................     9
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     9
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................     9
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     9
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     9
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     9
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............    10

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 8663, the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024, 
will provide the Department of Homeland Security's Science and 
Technology Directorate (S&T) with the authority to do research, 
development, testing, evaluation, and cost benefit analyses to 
improve the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of drug 
detection equipment and reference libraries used by Federal, 
state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.
    For the accurate detection of drugs or the disruption of 
drug trafficking, H.R. 8663 includes three focus areas that 
include: portable equipment that can detect and identify drugs 
with minimal or no handling of the sample; equipment that can 
separate complex mixtures containing low concentrations of 
drugs and high concentrations of cutting agents into their 
component parts to enable signature extraction for field 
identification and detection; and technologies that use machine 
learning or artificial intelligence and other techniques to 
predict whether the substances in a sample are controlled 
substance analogues or other new psychoactive substances not 
yet included in available reference libraries.
    Lastly, H.R. 8663 requires S&T to follow the 
recommendations, guidelines, and best practices outlined in the 
Federal government's Artificial Intelligence Risk Management 
Framework and directs S&T to utilize the Drug Enforcement 
Agency's (DEA) State and Territory Report on Enduring and 
Emerging Threats in establishing priorities. 

                  Background and Need for Legislation 

    Under the supervision of a licensed medical professional, 
fentanyl is typically used to medically treat patients with 
chronic or severe pain following surgery. However, according to 
the DEA, illicit fentanyl, primarily manufactured in foreign 
labs, is being smuggled into the United States through Mexico 
and sold across the country on the illegal drug market.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are the primary 
driver of overdose deaths in the United States. Because of the 
potency and low cost of fentanyl, it is oftentimes mixed with 
other drugs (e.g., heroin or cocaine) which increases the 
likelihood of a fatal interaction. In 2021, over 100,000 
Americans died due to drug overdoses.\2\ In 2023, more than 
112,000 Americans died from drug overdoses with 70% of those 
deaths caused by fentanyl.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/
23_0919_hsi_strategy-for-combatting-illicit-opioids.pdf.
    \3\https://www.dea.gov/engage/operation-engage-
seattle#::text=The%20Centers%20for%20 
Disease%20Control%20and%20Prevention%20is%20predicting%20record,drug%20p
oisonings %20are%20from%20fentanyl.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DHS's S&T carries out basic and applied research, 
development, demonstration, testing and evaluation activities 
relevant to the Department's mission. While S&T has an opioid/
fentanyl detection research program, this program is not 
explicitly set up by statute. H.R. 8663 would provide S&T 
statutory authority to conduct research, development, testing, 
and evaluation to improve drug detection technologies used by 
Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement 
agencies.
    Equipping first responders and law enforcement agencies 
with advanced tools to detect and disrupt fentanyl production, 
trafficking, and distribution will protect communities and save 
lives.

                                Hearings

    The Committee held the following hearings in the 118th 
Congress that informed H.R. 8663:
    On June 7, 2023, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law 
Enforcement, and Intelligence held a hearing entitled 
``Transnational Criminal Organizations: The Menacing Threat to 
the U.S. Homeland.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from 
Douglas Farah, President, IBI Consultants; Christopher Urben, 
Former Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Special Operations 
Division, U.S. DEA; Melissa Ford Maldonado, Policy Director, 
Texas Public Policy Foundation; and Jason Blazakis, Professor 
of Practice, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies; Director 
of Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, 
Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
    On July 12, 2023, the Subcommittee on Border Security and 
Enforcement held a hearing entitled ``Protecting the U.S. 
Homeland: Fighting the Flow of Fentanyl from the Southwest 
Border.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from Kemp 
Chester, Senior Advisor to the Director of National Drug 
Control Policy, Office of National Drug Control Policy; Steven 
Cagen, Assistant Director of the Countering Transnational 
Organized Crime Division, Homeland Security Investigations; 
James Mandryck, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of 
Intelligence, Customs and Border Protection; George 
Papadopoulos, Principal Deputy Administrator, DEA; and Tyrone 
Durham, Director, Nation State Threats Center, Office of 
Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security.
    On July 19, 2023, the Committee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing entitled, ``Biden and Mayorkas' Open Border: Advancing 
Cartel Crime in America.'' The Committee received testimony 
from Jaeson Jones, Private Citizen, Former Captain of 
Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism, Texas Department of Public 
Safety; Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies, Center for 
Immigration Studies; Derek Maltz, Private Citizen, Former 
Special Agent in Charge, Special Operations Division, DEA; and 
Vanda Felbab-Brown, PhD Director, Initiative on Nonstate Armed 
Actors, the Brookings Institution.
    On September 13, 2023, the Committee on Homeland Security 
held a hearing entitled, ``An Unbearable Price: The Devastating 
Human Costs of the Biden-Mayorkas Border Crisis.'' The 
Committee received testimony from Tim Ballard, Private citizen, 
Former Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security, 
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force; Sandy 
Snodgrass, Founder, Alaska Fentanyl Response; Mayra Cantu, 
Private citizen, wife of Border Patrol agent; and Lee Gelernt, 
Deputy Director, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, American 
Civil Liberties Union.
    The Committee held the following Member briefing in the 
118th Congress that informed H.R. 8863:
    On Thursday, April 11, 2024, the Subcommittee on Border 
Security and Enforcement and the Subcommittee on Emergency 
Management and Technology held a joint briefing with the 
Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), 
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and S&T to inform Members 
about current and emerging detection and inspection 
technologies used at the Southwest border and between Ports of 
Entry (POE).

                        Committee Consideration

    The Committee met on June 12, 2024, a quorum being present, 
to consider H.R. 8663 and ordered the measure to be favorably 
reported to the House by voice vote.

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the 
recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and 
amendments thereto.
    No recorded votes were requested during consideration of 
H.R. 8663.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII, the 
Committee advises that the findings and recommendations of the 
Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) 
of rule X, are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this 
report.

      Congressional Budget Office Estimate, New Budget 
   Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, and with respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate of any new 
budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an 
increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures contained 
in the cost estimate prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


    Legislation summary: On June 12, 2024, the House Committee 
on Homeland Security ordered 13 bills to be reported. This 
document provides estimates for 12 of those bills.
    The legislation would:
           Require the Department of Homeland Security 
        (DHS) to conduct a public information campaign on the 
        dangers of traveling to the United States through 
        Mexico from Central and South America;
           Codify the Special Event Assessment Rating 
        (SEAR) program within DHS;
           Authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
        (CBP) to conduct its own maintenance at ports of entry 
        for projects that cost less than $300,000;
           Prohibit DHS from purchasing batteries or 
        products that use batteries made by certain Chinese 
        entities;
           Impose various reporting requirements on the 
        Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS, and 
        the Government Accountability Office (GAO);
           Require DHS to conduct research and 
        development on equipment used by law enforcement 
        agencies to detect illicit drugs; and
           Expand the employee rotational program 
        within DHS to include intelligence analyst positions.
    Estimated Federal cost: The estimated costs of the 
legislation fall within budget functions 400 (transportation) 
and 750 (administration of justice).
    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the 
legislation will be enacted near the end of fiscal year 2024. 
The estimated costs do not include any interaction effects 
among the pieces of legislation. If all 12 bills were combined 
and enacted as a single piece of legislation, the estimated 
costs could be different than the sum of the separate 
estimates, although CBO expects that any difference would be 
small.
    H.R. 4574, Cooperation on Combatting Human Smuggling and 
Trafficking Act: H.R. 4574 would require DHS to conduct public 
information campaigns about the dangers for migrants traveling 
across Mexico to the United States. H.R. 4574 also would 
require DHS to expand partnerships with law enforcement 
entities in Central and South America to combat human smuggling 
and trafficking.
    Using information from DHS about the costs of similar 
public awareness campaigns, such as ``If You See Something, Say 
Something'' and the Blue Campaign, CBO estimates that it would 
cost $5 million annually to implement the public information 
campaigns. Those costs would include hiring and training staff, 
engaging private contractors, and advertising. CBO estimates 
that it would cost DHS less than $500,000 to comply with the 
bill's other provisions because the agency already conducts 
those activities. In total, CBO estimates that implementing 
H.R. 4574 would cost $26 million over the 2024-2029 period, 
assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts.
    H.R. 6229, DHS Special Events Program and Support Act: H.R. 
6229 would codify the Special Event Assessment Rating program 
that DHS currently administers. Under that program, state and 
local governments submit events to an inter-agency working 
group that assesses each event for potential security risks, 
such as terrorist attacks and other hazards. Depending on the 
level of risk determined by the group, DHS and other federal 
agencies may provide support to the state or local government 
in managing security operations for the event.
    H.R. 6229 also would require DHS to engage in research and 
development of emerging technologies that would enhance the 
department's efforts to support federal, state, local, tribal, 
and territorial agencies with respect to mass gatherings. 
Lastly, the bill would require DHS to report to the Congress 
annually on the program's activities and once every five years 
on the program's effectiveness.
    Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates 
implementing H.R. 6229 would cost less than $500,000 over the 
2024-2029 period, primarily to comply with the bill's reporting 
requirements. Any related spending would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds. Under current law, DHS 
already can conduct research and development on emerging 
technologies. On that basis, CBO estimates that the cost of 
implementing that provision and codifying the existing SEAR 
program would be insignificant.
    H.R. 8150, REVAMP Act: H.R. 8150 would require U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection (CBP) to establish procedures to allow 
the agency to carry out maintenance and repair projects that 
cost less than $300,000 at federally owned ports of entry 
without the direct involvement of the General Services 
Administration (GSA). Under the bill, that amount would be 
adjusted annually for inflation. The bill also would require 
CBP to consult with GSA before creating those procedures and 
report annually to the Congress on the projects it completed 
and their costs.
    Using information from CBP, CBO estimates that implementing 
H.R. 8150 would cost $1 million in administrative and personnel 
costs over the 2024-2029 period. Any related spending would be 
subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
    H.R. 8631, Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery 
Dependence Act: H.R. 8631 would, starting in fiscal year 2028, 
prohibit DHS from using appropriated funds to purchase a 
battery or a product that uses a battery made by certain 
Chinese entities. The bill would allow DHS to waive the 
prohibition under some circumstances, including if it 
determines that the battery would not pose a threat to national 
security. H.R. 8631 also would require DHS to report to the 
Congress within 180 days of enactment on the effect the 
prohibition would have on costs and operations.
    Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates 
that implementing H.R. 8631 would cost less than $500,000. Any 
related spending would be subject to the availability of 
appropriated funds.
    H.R. 8654, Streamlining Law Enforcement Information Sharing 
Act: H.R. 8654 would require the GAO to report to the Congress 
within one year of enactment on the Homeland Security 
Information Network. DHS uses that network to share information 
and intelligence with other law enforcement agencies, 
coordinate security for planned events, and respond to 
emergencies. Based on the costs of similar reports, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 8654 would cost less than 
$500,000 over the 2024-2029 period. Any related spending would 
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
    H.R. 8655, Federal Air Marshal Enhancing Airport Security 
Act of 2024: H.R. 8655 would require TSA to develop a plan for 
the role of federal air marshals at certain airports and brief 
the Congress on that plan. Based on the costs of similar 
activities, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost 
less than $500,000 over the 2024-2029 period. Any related 
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated 
funds.
    H.R. 8658, Emerging Digital Identity Ecosystem Report Act 
of 2024: H.R. 8658 would require TSA to report to the Congress 
on digital identity systems that allow credentials and other 
information to be verified in a secure and efficient manner. 
Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that 
implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 
2024-2029 period. Any related spending would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.
    H.R. 8662, TSA Commuting Fairness Act: H.R. 8662 would 
require TSA to report to the Congress on the feasibility of 
treating the time that its employees spend commuting from 
airport parking lots to their workstations as on- duty hours. 
Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that 
implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 
2024-2029 period. Any related spending would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.
    H.R. 8663, DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024: H.R. 
8663 would require DHS to engage in research and development of 
technologies and equipment that would help federal, state, 
local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies detect 
and disrupt illicit drug trafficking. Under current law, DHS 
already conducts research on equipment and technologies to 
detect and intercept illegal drugs. On that basis, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 8663 would cost less than 
$500,000. Any related spending would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.
    H.R. 8664, DHS Intelligence and Analysis Oversight and 
Transparency Act: H.R. 8664 would require DHS to annually audit 
its use of information systems and bulk data and report the 
results to the Congress. Based on the costs of similar 
activities, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 8664 would 
cost less than $500,000 over the 2024-2029 period. Any related 
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated 
funds.
    H.R. 8671, DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program 
and Law Enforcement Support Act: H.R. 8671 would allow 
intelligence analysts to participate in DHS's in-house employee 
rotation program, which allows personnel to work temporarily in 
different component units. CBO expects that DHS would need to 
update policies and procedures to expand the current rotation 
program. Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 8671 would cost less than 
$500,000 over the 2024-2029 period. Any related spending would 
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
    H.R. 8675, Repair the National Law Enforcement 
Telecommunications Systems Act of 2024: H.R. 8675 would require 
TSA to report to the Congress on how the agency collects 
digital data about law enforcement officers who are armed when 
they fly. Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO 
estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than 
$500,000 over the 2024-2029 period. Any related spending would 
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
    Pay-As-You-Go considerations: Enacting any of the 12 bills 
in this estimate would not affect direct spending or revenues; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    Increase in long-term net direct spending and deficits: CBO 
estimates that enacting any of the 12 bills in this estimate 
would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in 
any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035.
    Mandates: None of the bills contain intergovernmental or 
private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act.
    Previous CBO estimate: On April 10, 2023, CBO transmitted a 
cost estimate for S. 243, a bill to require the Commissioner of 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish procedures for 
conducting maintenance projects at ports of entry at which the 
Office of Field Operations conducts certain enforcement and 
facilitation activities, as ordered reported by the Senate 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on 
March 29, 2023. S. 243 is similar to H.R. 8150, and CBO's 
estimate of the costs are the same for both bills.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Jeremy Crimm 
(Department of Homeland Security), Aaron Krupkin 
(Transportation Security Administration); Mandates: Rachel 
Austin, Brandon Lever.
    Estimate reviewed by: Justin Humphrey, Chief, Finance, 
Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit; Robert Reese, 
Chief, Natural and Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit; 
Kathleen FitzGerald, Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit; 
H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
    Estimate approved by: Phillip L. Swagel, Director, 
Congressional Budget Office.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995.

                      Duplicative Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds 
that H.R. 8663 does not contain any provision that establishes 
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the objective of 
H.R. 8663 is to provide the Department of Homeland Security's 
S&T with the authority to do research, development, testing, 
evaluation, and cost benefit analysis to improve the safety, 
effectiveness, and efficiency of drug detection equipment and 
reference libraries used by Federal, state, local, tribal, and 
territorial law enforcement agencies.

     Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited 
                         Tariff Benefits

    In compliance with rule XXI, this bill, as reported, 
contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or 
limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 
9(f) of rule XXI.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                Applicability to the Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that H.R. 8663 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short titles

    This section states that the Act may be cited as the 
``Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the 
Threat of Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024'' or the ``DETECT 
Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024.''

Section 2. Enhancing the capacity to detect, identify, and disrupt 
     drugs such as fentayl and xylazine

    This section provides authority for the S&T to carry out 
research, development, testing, evaluation, and cost-benefit 
analyses to improve the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency 
of equipment and reference libraries for use by Federal, State, 
local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.
    This section highlights three focus areas for the accurate 
detection of drugs or the disruption of drug trafficking that 
include: portable equipment that can detect and identify drugs 
with minimal or no handling of the sample; equipment that can 
separate complex mixtures containing low concentrations of 
drugs and high concentrations of cutting agents into their 
component parts to enable signature extraction for field 
identification and detection; and technologies that use machine 
learning or artificial intelligence and other techniques to 
predict whether the substances in a sample are controlled 
substance analogues or other new psychoactive substances not 
yet included in available reference libraries.

Section 3. Requirements

    This section requires the S&T to follow the 
recommendations, guidelines, and best practices outlined in the 
Federal government's Artificial Intelligence Risk Management 
Framework and directs S&T to utilize the DEA State and 
Territory Report on Enduring and Emerging Threats in 
establishing priorities.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                     HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  TITLE III--SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
                   IN SUPPORT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

SEC. 302. RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE UNDER SEC-
            RETARY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

   The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for 
Science and Technology, shall have the responsibility for--
          (1) advising the Secretary regarding research and 
        development efforts and priorities in support of the 
        Department's missions;
          (2) developing, in consultation with other 
        appropriate executive agencies, a national policy and 
        strategic plan for, identifying priorities, goals, 
        objectives and policies for, and coordinating the 
        Federal Government's civilian efforts to identify and 
        develop countermeasures to chemical, biological, and 
        other emerging terrorist threats, including the 
        development of comprehensive, research-based definable 
        goals for such efforts and development of annual 
        measurable objectives and specific targets to 
        accomplish and evaluate the goals for such efforts;
          (3) supporting the Under Secretary for Intelligence 
        and Analysis and the Director of the Cybersecurity and 
        Infrastructure Security Agency, by assessing and 
        testing homeland security vulnerabilities and possible 
        threats;
          (4) conducting basic and applied research, 
        development, demonstration, testing, and evaluation 
        activities that are relevant to any or all elements of 
        the Department, through both intramural and extramural 
        programs, except that such responsibility does not 
        extend to human health-related research and development 
        activities;
          (5) establishing priorities for, directing, funding, 
        and conducting national research, development, test and 
        evaluation, and procurement of technology and systems 
        for--
                  (A) preventing the importation of chemical, 
                biological, and related weapons and material; 
                and
                  (B) detecting, preventing, protecting 
                against, and responding to terrorist attacks;
          (6) establishing a system for transferring homeland 
        security developments or technologies to Federal, 
        State, local government, and private sector entities;
          (7) entering into work agreements, joint 
        sponsorships, contracts, or any other agreements with 
        the Department of Energy regarding the use of the 
        national laboratories or sites and support of the 
        science and technology base at those facilities;
          (8) collaborating with the Secretary of Agriculture 
        and the Attorney General as provided in section 212 of 
        the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 
        U.S.C. 8401), as amended by section 1709(b);
          (9) collaborating with the Secretary of Health and 
        Human Services and the Attorney General in determining 
        any new biological agents and toxins that shall be 
        listed as ``select agents'' in Appendix A of part 72 of 
        title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, pursuant to 
        section 351A of the Public Health Service Act (42 
        U.S.C. 262a);
          (10) supporting United States leadership in science 
        and technology;
          (11) establishing and administering the primary 
        research and development activities of the Department, 
        including the long-term research and development needs 
        and capabilities for all elements of the Department;
          (12) coordinating and integrating all research, 
        development, demonstration, testing, and evaluation 
        activities of the Department;
          (13) coordinating with other appropriate executive 
        agencies in developing and carrying out the science and 
        technology agenda of the Department to reduce 
        duplication and identify unmet needs; [and]
          (14) developing and overseeing the administration of 
        guidelines for merit review of research and development 
        projects throughout the Department, and for the 
        dissemination of research conducted or sponsored by the 
        Department[.]; and
          (15) carrying out research, development, testing, 
        evaluation, and cost-benefit analyses to improve the 
        safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of equipment and 
        reference libraries for use by Federal, State, local, 
        Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies for 
        the accurate detection of drugs or the disruption of 
        drug trafficking for drugs such as fentanyl and 
        xylazine, including, but not limited to--
                  (A) portable equipment that can detect and 
                identify drugs with minimal or no handling of 
                the sample;
                  (B) equipment that can separate complex 
                mixtures containing low concentrations of drugs 
                and high concentrations of cutting agents into 
                their component parts to enable signature 
                extraction for field identification and 
                detection; and
                  (C) technologies that use machine learning or 
                artificial intelligence (as defined in section 
                5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence 
                Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401)) and 
                other techniques to predict whether the 
                substances in a sample are controlled substance 
                analogues or other new psychoactive substances 
                not yet included in available reference 
                libraries.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


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