I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2142 

To improve the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to interdict 

fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive 

substances that are illegally imported into the United States, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 25, 2017 

Ms. TSONGAS (for herself and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

A BILL 

To improve the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to interdict fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and 

other narcotics and psychoactive substances that are illegally imported into the United States, 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 ‘‘International Narcotics 

5 Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming 

6 Contraband with Technology Act’’ or the ‘‘INTERDICT 

7 Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) CHEMICAL SCREENING DEVICE.—The term 

4 ‘‘chemical screening device’’ means an infrared spec5 trophotometer, mass spectrometer, nuclear magnetic 

6 resonance spectrometer, Raman spectrophotometer, 

7 or other scientific instrumentation able to collect 

8 data that can be interpreted to determine the pres9 ence of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other 

10 narcotics and psychoactive substances. 

11 (2) EXPRESS CONSIGNMENT OPERATOR OR CAR12 RIER.—The term ‘‘express consignment operator or 

13 carrier’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

14 128.1 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (or 

15 any similar successor regulation). 

16 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

17 the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

18 SEC. 3. INTERDICTION OF FENTANYL, OTHER SYNTHETIC 

19 OPIOIDS, AND OTHER NARCOTICS AND 

20 PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES. 

21 (a) CHEMICAL SCREENING DEVICES.—The Secretary 

22 of Homeland Security shall— 

23 (1) increase the number of chemical screening 

24 devices available to U.S. Customs and Border Pro25 tection over the number of such devices that are 


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1 available on the date of the enactment of this Act; 

2 and 

3 (2) make such additional chemical screening de4 vices available to U.S. Customs and Border Protec5 tion as the Secretary determines are necessary for 

6 U.S. Customs and Border Protection to carry out 

7 activities to interdict fentanyl, other synthetic 

8 opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive sub9 stances that are illegally imported into the United 

10 States, including such substances that are imported 

11 through the mail or by an express consignment oper12 ator or carrier. 

13 (b) PERSONNEL TO INTERPRET DATA.—The Sec14 retary shall dedicate the appropriate number of personnel, 

15 including scientists, to U.S. Customs and Border Protec16 tion so that personnel are available during all operational 

17 hours to interpret data collected by chemical screening de18 vices. 

19 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

20 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec21 retary $15,000,000 to ensure that U.S. Customs and Bor22 der Protection— 

23 (1) has sufficient resources and personnel, in24 cluding scientists, available during all operational 

25 hours to prevent the unlawful importation of 


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1 fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics 

2 and psychoactive substances; and 

3 (2) is provided with sufficient chemical screen4 ing devices to facilitate the effective and efficient de5 tection and identification of such substances. 

Æ 


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