Pappas Joins Bipartisan Group Calling for Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Xylazine

This week Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined a bipartisan coalition of House members in calling for urgent passage of his bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. 

Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is an easily accessible veterinary tranquilizer that is being used as a low-cost cutting agent for fentanyl. Since it is not an opioid, its effects cannot be reversed by naloxone. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has designated fentanyl combined with xylazine as an “emerging threat.” This bipartisan legislation would schedule this dangerous drug and give law enforcement the tools they need to go after traffickers while protecting access for veterinarians, farmers, cattlemen, and ranchers who use xylazine to treat large animals.

“Congress has the power to revise current statute to protect communities, preserve legitimate access to veterinary medicine and human medical research, and safeguard our critical livestock industry,” wrote the Members. “As bipartisan cosponsors of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, we stand united in the need to address this urgent threat. Illicit xylazine is too great a crisis to wait any longer, and we urge the inclusion of this updated bipartisan, bicameral version of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act in end-of-year legislation.”

The bill currently has 101 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and is endorsed by 39 state attorneys general, major law enforcement organizations, and veterinary organizations. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Chuck Grassley (IA), and Maggie Hassan (NH) are leading companion legislation in the Senate.

Read the full letter here.