Suffolk Reporter

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County), a member of the Homeland Security Committee, announced that his legislation, H.R. 8663, the bipartisan Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of (DETECT) Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, has passed the House of Representatives. This marks the sixth bill LaLota has successfully passed in the House, tying him for third place among the 74 freshmen members of the House of Representatives.

"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."

In June, LaLota introduced H.R. 8663, which was subsequently passed by the House Committee on Homeland Security. The DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act aims to:

- Create a new statutory responsibility for the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) at the Department of Homeland Security to conduct research, development, testing, evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis to improve drug detection equipment used by Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

- Establish three primary focus areas: portable detection equipment requiring minimal handling of samples; equipment capable of separating complex mixtures with low concentrations of drugs; and technologies utilizing AI and machine learning to identify controlled substance analogs or new psychoactive substances not yet included in reference libraries.

- Require S&T to adhere to recommendations set out in the federal government’s Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework.

- Direct S&T to consider priorities outlined in DEA’s State and Territory Report on Enduring and Emerging Threats.

The legislation has received endorsements from several organizations including the National Association of Police Organizations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association of NYPD, National Border Patrol Council, National Treasury Employees Union, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, Shatterproof, National HIDTA Directors Association, and National Association of Counties.

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