Austin News

December 24, 2024

AUSTIN – A bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing law enforcement's ability to detect fentanyl and other drugs has been signed into law. The Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of (DETECT) Fentanyl and Xylazine Act was introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and James Lankford (R-OK). This legislation authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct research, development, testing, and evaluation on equipment designed to help law enforcement better identify these substances.

Senator Cornyn emphasized the importance of equipping law enforcement with tools necessary for identifying deadly drugs like fentanyl. “Fentanyl is a silent killer that lurks in the shadows of our communities, and we must assist law enforcement in rooting it out to stop the loss of more innocent lives,” he stated.

Senator Ossoff highlighted the impact on Georgia families, saying, “Illegal fentanyl trafficking is devastating Georgia families and putting our kids at risk. We brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass our bill into law that will strengthen detection and prevention of fentanyl trafficking.”

Senator Lankford addressed broader issues related to border security: “For anyone outside of the Washington, DC beltway, there is no doubt that the border is in chaos... We are calling on DHS to stop illegal immigration and develop a new way to detect, stop, and investigate fentanyl trafficking into the US."

The legislation also received support from U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) as a cosponsor. In addition, U.S. Representatives Nick LaLota (NY-01), Lou Correa (CA-46), and Don Davis (NC-01) led companion legislation in the House.

The Science and Technology Directorate within DHS will now have a statutory responsibility to collaborate with agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration for improving drug detection technology used by various levels of law enforcement. This includes developing portable detection equipment requiring minimal sample handling and utilizing AI technologies for identifying unknown substances.

The DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act has garnered endorsements from several organizations including the National Association of Police Organizations, National Border Patrol Council, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition among others.