IIB 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3722 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
OCTOBER 15, 2019 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs 
AN ACT 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize 
a Joint Task Force to enhance integration of the Depart-
ment 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. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Joint Task Force to 
Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF JOINT TASK FORCE TO 
COUNTER OPIOIDS. 
Subsection (b) of section 708 of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 348) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by adding at the end 
the following new clause: 
‘‘(iv) Enhancing the integration of the 
Department’s border security operations to 
detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent nar-
cotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic 
opioids, from entering the United States.’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through 
(13) as paragraphs (11) through (15), respectively; 
and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(9) ENGAGEMENT
WITH
THE
PRIVATE
SEC-
TOR.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Director of a 
Joint Task Force may engage with representa-
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tives from a private sector organization for the 
purpose of carrying out the mission of such 
Joint Task Force, and any such engagement 
shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
‘‘(B) ASSISTANCE
FROM
PRIVATE
SEC-
TOR.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
subsection (b)(1), the Secretary, with the 
agreement of a private sector organization, 
may arrange for the temporary assignment 
of an employee of such organization to a 
Joint Task Force in accordance with this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(ii) 
AGREEMENT.—The 
Secretary 
shall provide for a written agreement be-
tween the Department, the private sector 
organization concerned, and the employee 
concerned regarding the terms and condi-
tions of the assignment of such employee 
under this paragraph. 
‘‘(C) 
NO
FINANCIAL
LIABILITY.—Any 
agreement under this paragraph shall require 
the private sector organization concerned to be 
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responsible for all costs associated with the as-
signment of an employee under this paragraph. 
‘‘(D) DURATION.—An assignment under 
this paragraph may, at any time and for any 
reason, be terminated by the Secretary or the 
private sector organization concerned and shall 
be for a total period of not more than 2 years. 
‘‘(10) COLLABORATION
WITH
TASK
FORCES 
OUTSIDE
DHS.—The Secretary may enter into a 
memorandum of understanding by which a Joint 
Task Force established under this section to carry 
out any purpose specified in paragraph (2)(A) and 
any other Federal, State, local, Tribal, territorial, or 
international entity or task force established for a 
similar purpose may collaborate for the purpose of 
carrying out the mission of such Joint Task Force.’’. 
SEC. 3. NOTIFICATION; REPORTING. 
(a) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security shall— 
(1) make a determination regarding whether to 
establish a Joint Task Force under section 708 of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to carry out the 
purpose specified in clause (iv) of subsection 
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(b)(2)(A) of such section, as added by section 2 of 
this Act; and 
(2) submit to the Committee on Homeland Se-
curity of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs of the Senate written notification of such deter-
mination, including, if such determination is in the 
negative, information on the basis for such negative 
determination. 
(b) REPORTING.—If the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity establishes a Joint Task Force under section 708 
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to carry out the 
purpose specified in clause (iv) of subsection (b)(2)(A) of 
such section, as added by section 2 of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) beginning with the first report required 
under subsection (b)(6)(F) of such section 708, in-
clude with respect to such a Joint Task Force— 
(A) a gap analysis of funding, personnel, 
technology, or other resources needed in order 
to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent nar-
cotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic 
opioids, from entering the United States; and 
(B) a description of collaboration pursuant 
to subsection (b)(10) of such section (as added 
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by section 2 of this Act) between such a Joint 
Task Force and any other Federal, State, local, 
Tribal, territorial, or international task force, 
including the United States Postal Service and 
the United States Postal Inspection Service; 
and 
(2) in each review required under subsection 
(b)(11)(C) of section 708 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002, as redesignated by section 2 of this 
Act, an assessment of the activities of such a Joint 
Task Force, including an evaluation of whether such 
Joint Task Force has enhanced integration of the 
Department’s efforts, created any unique capabili-
ties, or otherwise enhanced operational effectiveness, 
coordination, or information sharing to detect, inter-
dict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl 
and other synthetic opioids, from entering the 
United States. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 27, 
2019. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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