I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1561 
To require research with respect to fentanyl and xylazine test strips, to 
authorize the use of grant funds for such test strips, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2025 
Ms. CROCKETT (for herself and Mr. GOODEN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To require research with respect to fentanyl and xylazine 
test strips, to authorize the use of grant funds for such 
test strips, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Advancing Lifesaving 
Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act’’ or 
the ‘‘ALERT Communities Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING. 
Section 546(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 290ee–1(c)) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:50 Mar 13, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) train and provide resources for first re-
sponders and members of other relevant community 
sectors on carrying and facilitating access to 
fentanyl or xylazine test strips (as defined in section 
5 of the Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid 
Test strips for Communities Act).’’. 
SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND MARKETING FRAMEWORKS FOR 
TEST STRIP TECHNOLOGY. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in con-
sultation with the Director of the National Institutes of 
Health, the Director of the Office of National Drug Con-
trol Policy, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the 
Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, 
shall develop and make publicly available research and 
marketing frameworks for developing, improving, and 
evaluating test strip technology for detecting fentanyl and 
other dangerous substances. Such frameworks shall— 
(1) include standards and guidance for manu-
facturers seeking to develop and test new test strip 
technology; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:50 Mar 13, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) emphasize bringing new test strip tech-
nology intended for testing human specimens in clin-
ical settings to support on-site clinical decision-mak-
ing; and 
(3) include guidance on available authorization 
pathways for test strips described in paragraphs (1) 
and (2). 
SEC. 4. STUDY ON FENTANYL TEST STRIP INTERVENTIONS. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— 
(1) conduct a study on the impact of the avail-
ability, accessibility, and usage of drug checking 
supplies, including test strips, on frequency of over-
dose, overdose deaths, and engagement in substance 
use disorder treatment; and 
(2) not later than 2 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act, submit to Congress a report on 
the study conducted under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 5. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘test strip’’ means a rapid re-
sponse, single use diagnostic that can be used to detect 
the adulteration of a drug with, or the presence in a 
human specimen of, any substance that may lead to in-
creased morbidity or mortality, such as fentanyl, xylazine, 
or another synthetic opioid or emerging substance. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:50 Mar 13, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS