Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023 TRANQ Research Act of 2023 2. Xylazine detection and analysis (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Director The term Director (2) Federal laboratory The term Federal laboratory 15 U.S.C. 3703 (3) Institute The term Institute (4) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 19 U.S.C. 1001 (5) Nonprofit organization The term nonprofit organization section 501(c)(3) (6) Xylazine The term xylazine (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.

Summary: Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023 or the TRANQ Research Act of 2023 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 new psychoactive substances. In particular, NIST must support basic measurement science and research, including graduate and postgraduate research; near-real time spectrometry capabilities (i.e., a technique for rapidly identifying the chemical composition of a substance); strategies and voluntary best practices for handling, transporting, and analyzing such substances; and collaboration with other government agencies, institutions of higher education, and the private sector to enhance relevant narcotic and opioid detection and analysis capabilities. The Government Accountability Office must evaluate the capability of the federal government to respond to the threats posed by new psychoactive substances like xylazine, including with respect to available technology and laboratories.