TRANQ Research Act of 2023

Subjects: Science, Technology, Communications, Advanced technology and technological innovations, Chemistry, Congressional oversight, Drug trafficking and controlled substances, Higher education, Research administration and funding, Science and engineering education

Summary:  <p><b>Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023 or the TRANQ Research Act</b> <b>of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research and other activities related to identifying xylazine (a compound used in veterinary medicine as a nonopioid tranquilizer), novel synthetic opioids, and other emerging substances of concern.</p> <p>In particular, NIST must support</p> <ul> <li>basic measurement science and research, including graduate and postgraduate research;</li> <li>near-real time spectrometry capabilities (i.e., a technique for rapidly identifying the chemical composition of a substance);</li> <li>strategies and voluntary best practices for handling, transporting, and analyzing such substances; and</li> <li>collaboration with other government agencies, institutions of higher education, and the private sector to enhance relevant narcotic and opioid detection and analysis capabilities.</li> </ul>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1280 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1280

 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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 25, 2023

  Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 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 illicit drugs containing 
                xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other emerging 
                substances of concern;
                    (B) measurement technologies to shorten analysis 
                timelines and enhance narcotic and opioid detection and 
                analysis capabilities in illicit drugs;
                    (C) new data tools, techniques, and processes to 
                identify and publicly disclose relevant information 
                concerning illicit drugs containing xylazine, novel 
                synthetic opioids, or other emerging substances of 
                concern; and
                    (D) all other areas determined by the Director to 
                be critical to the development and deployment of 
                technologies to measure and analyze the presence of 
                xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other emerging 
                substances of concern in illicit drugs;
            (2) support activities to inform and expand the development 
        of near-real time spectrometry capabilities regarding xylazine, 
        novel synthetic opioids, and other emerging compounds in 
        illicit drugs;
            (3) convene the private sector, institutions of higher 
        education, nonprofit organizations, Federal laboratories, and 
        other Federal agencies engaged in the analysis of illicit drugs 
        to develop coordinated strategies and voluntary best practices 
        for the safe handling, transport, and analysis of illicit drugs 
        containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other emerging 
        substances of concern;
            (4) establish or expand collaborative partnerships or 
        consortia with other government agencies engaged in 
        counternarcotic research and development, institutions of 
        higher education, Federal laboratories, and the private sector 
        to enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis 
        capabilities regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and 
        other emerging substances of concern in illicit drugs; and
            (5) provide opportunities for graduate and postgraduate 
        research on the detection and identification of xylazine, novel 
        synthetic opioids, and other emerging substances of concern in 
        illicit drugs.
    (c) Controls.--In carrying out activities under this section, the 
Director shall ensure proper security controls are implemented to 
protect sensitive information, as appropriate.
    (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.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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