Bill to improve opioid detection capabilities advances Senate

A bill by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins’ (R-LA), the ranking member of the Border Security Subcommittee, that would provide border patrol agents with stronger opioid detection equipment has passed in the Senate, his office said Wednesday.

H.R. 4761, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

The legislation would provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents with chemical screening devices that can identify narcotics with purity levels of 10 percent or less – the purity level of most fentanyl seized at the southwest border. Additionally, the bill would require DHS to develop a centralized spectral database for those devices that would allow DHS to put out data as new drug analogs or spectra are identified.

“Our Homeland Security pro-law enforcement bill is heading to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. Getting bipartisan legislation passed through Congress during an era of incredibly divisive political posturing by both parties reflects my steadfast commitment to Constitutionalist core principles. Even during the most challenging times, it’s possible to get things done for America,” Higgins said. “The DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act helps secure the border and protects our communities against fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. This was a very significant effort. We introduced HR 4761 in October of 2019. My legislative staff and the Homeland Security Committee legislative staff are dedicated Patriots. I’m encouraged to see solid Thin Blue Line legislation advance to President Trump to be signed into law despite divisions in Congress.”