By Hank Russell
A bill introduced by U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota that he said would fight the scourge of fentanyl and xylazine in this country passed the House of Representatives unanimously.
The Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of (DETECT) Fentanyl and Xylazine Act passed by a voice vote on September 9 without one “no” vote. LaLota (R-Rocky Point) introduced the bill on June 7. It passed through the Homeland Security Committee about a week later.
The bill would require the DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate to develop greater capacity to detect, identify and disrupt illicit drugs in very low concentrations. The directorate would be authorized to improve the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of drug detection equipment and reference libraries used by law enforcement agencies at all levels. This means detecting levels of the drug without the need to handle it, developing equipment that can detect low concentrations of drugs mixed with a high level of cutting agents and creating machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies and other techniques to determine whether or not the drug appears in the current reference libraries.
“The House has just passed the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, a vital step toward addressing the deadly opioid crisis sweeping our nation. This bipartisan legislation will empower law enforcement with cutting-edge technology to detect and stop the flow of lethal substances like fentanyl and xylazine before they reach our streets,” said LaLota. “With over 107,000 overdose deaths last year alone, this bill is a critical measure in saving lives and protecting communities across America. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues in the House for recognizing the urgency of this crisis and swiftly passing this critical legislation and I urge the Senate to do the same.”