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. 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 substances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive substances; (B) measurement technologies to shorten analysis timelines and enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis capabilities; (C) new data tools, techniques, and processes to identify and publicly disclose relevant information concerning substances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive substances; and (D) such other areas as the Director determines to be critical to the development and deployment of technologies to measure and analyze the presence of xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new psychoactive substances; (2) support activities to inform and expand the development of near-real time spectrometry capabilities regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new psychoactive substances; (3) convene and consult with organizations engaged in the analysis of new psychoactive substances to develop coordinated strategies and voluntary best practices for the safe handling, transport, data-sharing, and analysis of substances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive substances, including— (A) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (B) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (C) the National Institute on Drug Abuse; (D) Federal laboratories; (E) States and territories; (F) State fusion centers; (G) the private sector; (H) intergovernmental organizations; (I) institutions of higher education, and (J) nonprofit organizations; (4) establish or expand collaborative partnerships or consortia with other government agencies and persons engaged in related research and development, such as institutions of higher education, Federal laboratories, public health agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and the private sector, to enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis capabilities regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new psychoactive substances; and (5) encourage graduate and post-graduate research to include detection and identification of xylazine and other emerging substances of concern in relevant course studies when practicable. (c) Controls In carrying out activities under this section, the Director shall ensure proper security controls are implemented to protect sensitive information, as the Director considers appropriate and consistent with applicable provisions of law. (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. 3. Study on United States Government technologies and analytical methods to detect and identify new psychoactive substances (a) Study (1) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the capabilities of the Federal Government to respond to the threats of new psychoactive substances such as xylazine. (2) Matters evaluated The study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include an evaluation of the following: (A) The capabilities, including technologies and analytical methods, of Federal, State, and local agencies to detect and identify new psychoactive substances such as xylazine. (B) An analysis of timeframes for identification and development of technologies and methods to identify new psychoactive substances by Federal, State, and local agencies. (C) Facilities, including laboratories, used by Federal, State, and local agencies for the identification of new psychoactive substances such as xylazine. (D) Federal grant programs to fund new technology development to detect and identify new psychoactive substances. (b) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and the House Committee on Science a report containing the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a). December 13, 2023 Reported with an amendment

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.