Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024
Floor Speech
H.R. 8663, the Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of Fentanyl and Xylazine Act is a critical piece of legislation that empowers the DHS Science and Technology Directorate to enhance the ability of all levels of law enforcement to detect and disrupt illicit substances.
This bipartisan bill, which is cosponsored in the House by my colleagues Congressmen Lou Correa and Don Davis, was initially introduced by Senators Cornyn, Ossoff, Lankford, and Sinema this past spring.
The bill mandates the development of advanced technologies, such as portable drug detectors that require minimal sample handling, equipment capable of separating complex drug mixtures into identifiable components, and the use of artificial intelligence to identify emerging threats.
These innovations are designed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of drug detection efforts, providing law enforcement with the tools they need to stay ahead of traffickers and safeguard our communities.
While this bipartisan bill is undeniably a step forward in combating the widespread issue of illicit substances like fentanyl and xylazine, it is essential to recognize that its impact goes far beyond the narrow scope of any nation's involvement, including China's. The challenges of detecting these dangerous drugs are global in nature, and the solutions proposed by this bill address a broad spectrum of threats that law enforcement faces across the United States.
This bill is primarily a response and provides comprehensive benefits in bolstering our national security and public health infrastructure. Therefore, while we strongly support the bill's objectives, we resist the effort to politicize any aspect of this critical issue, especially given the complexity and widespread nature of this action.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Republicans and Democrats alike recognize the challenges facing law enforcement in the detection of dangerous drugs like fentanyl. H.R. 8663 is a step in the right direction, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
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