TRANQ Research Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1280
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-04-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Chemistry
Congressional oversight
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Higher education
Research administration and funding
Science and engineering education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: 

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 emerging substances of concern.
 
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.
 

action_date: 2023-12-13
text: 

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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 286.
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-05-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: Introduced in Senate