H.R. 1734 (ENR) - Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1734 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.1734

                     One Hundred Eighteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
         the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-three


                                 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.

    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 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).

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.