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H.R. 2142 (115th): INTERDICT Act


The text of the bill below is as of Sep 21, 2017 (Reported by House Committee).

Summary of this bill

Source: Republican Policy Committee

H.R. 2142 provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enhanced chemical screening devices and scientific support to detect and intercept fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Specifically, this bill will ensure that CBP has additional portable chemical screening devices available at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities, and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories.

Although prescription fentanyl can be misused, most fentanyl deaths are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl and illicit versions of chemically similar compounds known as fentanyl analogs.

The majority of fentanyl trafficked in the United States originates in Mexico or China. The drug is typically smuggled across the U.S. border or sent …


IB

Union Calendar No. 227

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2142

[Report No. 115–317]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 25, 2017

(for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

September 21, 2017

Additional sponsors: Mrs. Comstock, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Keating, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. Welch, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. MacArthur, Mr. Norcross, Mr. Higgins of New York, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Curbelo of Florida, and Mr. Krishnamoorthi

September 21, 2017

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 25, 2017


A BILL

To improve the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to interdict fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive substances that are illegally imported into the United States, and for other purposes.


1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology Act or the INTERDICT Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Chemical screening device

The term chemical screening device means an immunoassay, narcotics field test kit, infrared spectrophotometer, mass spectrometer, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, Raman spectrophotometer, or other scientific instrumentation able to collect data that can be interpreted to determine the presence of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive substances.

(2)

Commissioner

The term Commissioner means the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(3)

Express consignment operator or carrier

The term express consignment operator or carrier has the meaning given that term in section 128.1 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (or any similar successor regulation).

3.

Interdiction of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive substances

(a)

Chemical screening devices

The Commissioner shall—

(1)

increase the number of chemical screening devices available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers over the number of such devices that are available on the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(2)

make such additional chemical screening devices available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers as the Commissioner determines are necessary to interdict fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive substances that are illegally imported into the United States, including such substances that are imported through the mail or by an express consignment operator or carrier.

(b)

Personnel to interpret data

The Commissioner shall dedicate the appropriate number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, including scientists, so that such personnel are available during all operational hours to interpret data collected by chemical screening devices.

4.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commissioner $9,000,000 to ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has resources, including chemical screening devices, personnel, and scientists, available during all operational hours to prevent, detect, and interdict the unlawful importation of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive substances.

September 21, 2017

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed