Bills
| 3.23.22

Should Border Agents Have More Chemical Screening Devices to Stop the Trafficking of Fentanyl and Other Opioids? (H.R. 2142)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 2142?

(Updated February 20, 2019)

This bill was enacted on January 10, 2018

This bill — known as the INTERDICT Act — would provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with $9 million to obtain more chemical screening devices to detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, or other substances that are illegally imported into the U.S. It would also go to supporting additional CBP personnel who’d operate those devices or interpret the data collected.

The bill’s full title is the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology Act.

Argument in favor

Customs and Border Protection agents need chemical screening devices at points of entry into the U.S. in order to detect fentanyl and other opioids, and this bipartisan bill provides the resources needed to acquire and use them.

Argument opposed

The opioid crisis is a severe public health issue facing the U.S., but there are better ways to combat it than by giving Customs and Border Protection the tools to detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids at the border.

Impact

Customs and Border Patrol personnel; and CBP.

Cost of H.R. 2142

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost $9 million over the 2018-19 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA) introduced this bill to provide CBP with chemical screening devices to detect fentanyl and other illegal substances at ports of entry into the U.S.:

“We are currently facing a nationwide epidemic of opioid abuse that is resulting in drastic increases in addiction rates, overdose deaths, and incarceration. Every corner of Massachusetts has been hit hard and people across my District – families, officials and those on the front lines of law enforcement and public health – all agree we need a comprehensive, cooperative, resourceful effort to effectively combat this crisis. This bill is key to that mission, and would be a powerful tool for eliminating synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, from the equation. As we see synthetics become more potent and more prominent, providing CBP with more equipment and resources will improve their ability to keep these harmful substances out of our country.”

Lead cosponsor Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) added:

“From Levittown to Lower Salford, no part of my district is left unaffected by our opioid crisis. As an EMT and former federal drug prosecutor, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of addiction in our communities and understand the increased danger added by synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Our nation’s drug epidemic is a complicated issue and our response must be multi-faceted; that means disrupting the flow of drug while also increasing the accessibility and affordability for prevention, education, treatment, and recovery of this disease.”

This legislation passed the House Homeland Security Committee on a voice vote and has the support of 18 bipartisan cosponsors, including 13 Democrats and five Republicans.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Moussa81 / iStock)