[118th Congress Public Law 23]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 137 STAT. 125]]
Public Law 118-23
118th Congress
An Act
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. <<NOTE: Dec. 19, 2023 - [H.R. 1734]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Testing, Rapid
Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 15 USC 271 note.>> 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. <<NOTE: 15 USC 278u.>> 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
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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) <<NOTE: Consultation. Strategies.>> 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
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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).
Approved December 19, 2023.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1734 (S. 1280):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-50 (Comm. on Science, Space, and Technology).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 169 (2023):
May 9, 11, considered and passed House.
June 22, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Dec. 4, House concurred in Senate amendment.
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