I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5762 

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize a Joint Task 

Force to enhance integration of the Department of Homeland Security’s 

border security operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering the 

United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 10, 2018 

Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself and Mr. KING of New York) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

A BILL 

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize 

a Joint Task Force to enhance integration of the Department of Homeland Security’s border security operations 

to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such 

as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering 

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 ‘‘Joint Task Force to 

5 Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2018’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF JOINT TASK FORCE TO 

2 COUNTER OPIOIDS. 

3 Section 708 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

4 (6 U.S.C. 348) is amended— 

5 (1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by adding at the 

6 end the following new clause: 

7 ‘‘(iv) Enhancing the integration of the 

8 Department’s border security operations to 

9 detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent nar10 cotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic 

11 opioids, from entering the United States.’’; 

12 and 

13 (2) in subsection (b)— 

14 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (9) 

15 through (13) as paragraphs (11) through (15), 

16 respectively; and 

17 (B) by inserting after paragraph (8) the 

18 following new paragraph: 

19 ‘‘(9) ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE SEC20 TOR.— 

21 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director of a 

22 Joint Task Force may engage with representa23 tives from a private sector organization for the 

24 purpose of carrying out the mission of such 

25 Joint Task Force, and any such engagement 


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1 shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 

2 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 

3 ‘‘(B) ASSISTANCE FROM PRIVATE SEC4 TOR.— 

5 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 

6 subsection (b)(1), the Secretary, with the 

7 agreement of a private sector organization, 

8 may arrange for the temporary assignment 

9 of an employee of such organization to a 

10 Joint Task Force in accordance with this 

11 paragraph. 

12 ‘‘(ii) AGREEMENT.—The Secretary 

13 shall provide for a written agreement be14 tween the Department, the private sector 

15 organization concerned, and the employee 

16 concerned regarding the terms and condi17 tions of the assignment of such employee 

18 under this paragraph. 

19 ‘‘(C) NO FINANCIAL LIABILITY.—Any 

20 agreement under this paragraph shall require 

21 the private sector organization concerned to be 

22 responsible for all costs associated with the as23 signment of an employee under this paragraph. 

24 ‘‘(D) DURATION.—An assignment under 

25 this paragraph may, at any time and for any 


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1 reason, be terminated by the Secretary or the 

2 private sector organization concerned and shall 

3 be for a total period of not more than two 

4 years. 

5 ‘‘(10) COLLABORATION WITH TASK FORCES

6 OUTSIDE DHS.—The Secretary may enter into a 

7 memorandum of understanding by which a Joint 

8 Task Force established under this section to carry 

9 out any purpose specified in subsection (b)(2)(A) 

10 and any other Federal, State, local, tribal, terri11 torial, or international task force established for a 

12 similar purpose may collaborate for the purpose of 

13 carrying out the mission of such Joint Task Force.’’. 

14 SEC. 3. NOTIFICATION; REPORTING. 

15 (a) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days after the 

16 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home17 land Security shall— 

18 (1) make a determination regarding whether to 

19 establish a Joint Task Force under section 708 of 

20 the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to carry out the 

21 purpose specified in clause (iv) of subsection 

22 (b)(2)(A) of such section, as added by section 2 of 

23 this Act; and 

24 (2) submit to the Committee on Homeland Se25 curity of the House and the Committee on HomeVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 May 24, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5762.IH H5762

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1 land Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen2 ate written notification of such determination, in3 cluding, if such determination is in the negative, in4 formation on the basis for such negative determina5 tion. 

6 (b) REPORTING.—If the Secretary of Homeland Se7 curity establishes a Joint Task Force under section 708 

8 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to carry out the 

9 purpose specified in clause (iv) of subsection (b)(2)(A) of 

10 such section, as added by section 2 of this Act, the Sec11 retary shall— 

12 (1) beginning with the first report required 

13 under subsection (b)(6)(F) of such section 708, in14 clude with respect to such a Joint Task Force— 

15 (A) a gap analysis of funding, personnel, 

16 technology, or other resources needed in order 

17 to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent nar18 cotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic 

19 opioids, from entering the United States; and 

20 (B) a description of collaboration pursuant 

21 to subsection (b)(10) of such section (as added 

22 by section 2 of this Act) between such a Joint 

23 Task Force and any other Federal, State, local, 

24 tribal, territorial, or international task force, in25 cluding the United States Postal Service and 


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1 the United States Postal Inspection Service; 

2 and 

3 (2) in each report required under subsection 

4 (b)(11)(C) of section 708 of the Homeland Security 

5 Act of 2002, as redesignated by section 2 of this 

6 Act, an assessment of the activities of such a Joint 

7 Task Force, including an evaluation of whether such 

8 Joint Task Force has enhanced integration of the 

9 Department’s efforts, created any unique capabili10 ties, or otherwise enhanced operational effectiveness, 

11 coordination, or information sharing to detect, inter12 dict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl 

13 and other synthetic opioids, from entering the 

14 United States. 

Æ 


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