Austin News

May 23, 2024

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), James Lankford (R-OK), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) introduced the Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of (DETECT) Fentanyl and Xylazine Act today. The proposed legislation would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct research, development, testing, and evaluation on equipment aimed at improving law enforcement's ability to detect fentanyl and other drugs.

“Fentanyl is an unyielding silent killer that lurks in the shadows of our communities, and we must prepare law enforcement to root it out and stop the loss of more innocent lives,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation will ensure our brave men and women in uniform have every available tool to safely identify these deadly drugs and help put a stop to this devastating epidemic.”

“Illegal fentanyl trafficking is devastating Georgia families and putting our kids at risk,” stated Sen. Ossoff. “This is why alongside Senators Cornyn, Lankford, and Sinema, we are introducing this bipartisan bill to strengthen detection and prevention of fentanyl trafficking.”

“For anyone outside of the Washington, DC beltway, there is no doubt that the border is in chaos,” remarked Sen. Lankford. “Besides a record number of illegal border crossers being released into the country with no idea who they are, where they are from, or where they are going, the crisis has also resulted in massive amounts of fentanyl coming into our country, which has been deadly to many communities across the US. Sadly, Oklahoma is no stranger to the terrible impact of fentanyl. We are calling on DHS to stop illegal immigration and develop a new way to detect, stop, and investigate fentanyl trafficking into the US. This is one step in stopping the chaos but one that will have a huge impact on our communities and families.”

“Over half of the fentanyl coming into the U.S. comes through Arizona,” added Sen. Sinema. “Our bipartisan bill will help stop this dangerous flow of drugs by supplying law enforcement with new tools to detect opioids and crack down on the trafficking of fentanyl.”

The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), established in 2003 as DHS’s research arm tasked with providing scientific expertise for policy formulation on various threats including narcotics, currently operates an opioid detection research program not explicitly set up by law.

The DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act aims to:

- Create a statutory responsibility for S&T for conducting research, development, testing, evaluation, cost-benefit analysis to improve drug detection equipment used by federal, state, local, tribal law enforcement.

- Establish three primary focus areas: portable detection equipment requiring minimal sample handling; equipment separating complex mixtures for easier drug identification; AI technologies predicting controlled substance analogues.

- Require adherence to federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework guidelines.

- Direct S&T’s priorities based on DEA’s State/Territory Report on Enduring/Emerging Threats.

The act has garnered endorsements from several organizations including National Association of Police Organizations; National Border Patrol Council; National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition; National HIDTA Directors Association; Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; Sergeants Benevolent NYPD; National Treasury Employees Union; Shatterproof.

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