TRANQ Research Act of 2023
PL 118-23 (H.R.1734), enacted 12/19/2023

[118th Congress Public Law 23]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 137 STAT. 125]]

Public Law 118-23
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 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. <<NOTE: Dec. 19, 2023 -  [H.R. 1734]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Testing, Rapid 
Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 15 USC 271 note.>>  SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic 
Quality Research Act of 2023'' or the ``TRANQ Research Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 15 USC 278u.>>  XYLAZINE DETECTION AND ANALYSIS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
            (2) Federal laboratory.--The term ``Federal laboratory'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler 
        Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703).
            (3) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology.
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution 
        of higher education'' has the meaning given such term in section 
        101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (19 U.S.C. 1001).
            (5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
        organization'' means an organization described in section 
        501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
        tax under section 501(a) of such code.
            (6) Xylazine.--The term ``xylazine'' means the nonopioid 
        tranquilizer methyl benzene compound frequently used in 
        veterinary medicine as an emetic and sedative with analgesic and 
        muscle relaxant properties.

    (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

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                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) <<NOTE: Consultation. Strategies.>>  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 new 
        psychoactive substances 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.
SEC. 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

[[Page 137 STAT. 127]]

        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 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report 
containing the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to the 
study conducted pursuant to subsection (a).

    Approved December 19, 2023.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1734 (S. 1280):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-50 (Comm. on Science, Space, and Technology).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 169 (2023):
            May 9, 11, considered and passed House.
            June 22, considered and passed Senate, amended.
            Dec. 4, House concurred in Senate amendment.

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