I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7226 

To require research with respect to fentanyl and xylazine test strips, to 

authorize the use of grant funds for such test strips, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2024 

Ms. CROCKETT (for herself and Mr. GOODEN of Texas) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To require research with respect to fentanyl and xylazine 

test strips, to authorize the use of grant funds for such 

test strips, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advancing Lifesaving 

5 Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act’’ or 

6 the ‘‘ALERT Communities Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING. 

8 Section 546(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 

9 U.S.C. 290ee–1(c)) is amended— 


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•HR 7226 IH

1 (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 

2 inserting a semicolon; 

3 (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and 

4 inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

5 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(5) train and provide resources for first re7 sponders and members of other relevant community 

8 sectors on carrying and facilitating access to 

9 fentanyl or xylazine test strips (as defined in section 

10 5 of the Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid 

11 Test strips for Communities Act).’’. 

12 SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND MARKETING FRAMEWORKS FOR 

13 TEST STRIP TECHNOLOGY. 

14 The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in con15 sultation with the Director of the National Institutes of 

16 Health, the Director of the Office of National Drug Con17 trol Policy, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the 

18 Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, 

19 shall develop and make publicly available research and 

20 marketing frameworks for developing, improving, and 

21 evaluating test strip technology for detecting fentanyl and 

22 other dangerous substances. Such frameworks shall— 

23 (1) include standards and guidance for manu24 facturers seeking to develop and test new test strip 

25 technology; 


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•HR 7226 IH

1 (2) emphasize bringing new test strip tech2 nology intended for testing human specimens in clin3 ical settings to support on-site clinical decision mak4 ing; and 

5 (3) include guidance on available authorization 

6 pathways for test strips described in paragraphs (1) 

7 and (2). 

8 SEC. 4. STUDY ON FENTANYL TEST STRIP INTERVENTIONS. 

9 The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— 

10 (1) conduct a study on the impact of the avail11 ability, accessibility, and usage of drug checking 

12 supplies, including test strips, on frequency of over13 dose, overdose deaths, and engagement in substance 

14 use disorder treatment; and 

15 (2) not later than 2 years after the date of en16 actment of this Act, submit to Congress a report on 

17 the study conducted under paragraph (1). 

18 SEC. 5. DEFINITION. 

19 In this Act, the term ‘‘test strip’’ means a rapid re20 sponse, single use diagnostic that can be used to detect 

21 the adulteration of a drug with, or the presence in a 

22 human specimen of, any substance that may lead to in23 creased morbidity or mortality, such as fentanyl, xylazine, 

24 or another synthetic opioid or emerging substance. 

Æ 


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