Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act
Floor Speech
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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.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. 1734, the bill now under consideration.
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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 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.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) to speak on his bill.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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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.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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