PASSED THE HOUSE: Pappas’s Bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

This week the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which was introduced by Congressman Chris Pappas(NH-01) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta(CA-19), unanimously passed the House of Representatives. This bill would list xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance while protecting the drug’s legal use by veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“We must take action to crack down on dealers who are cutting deadly drugs with the legal animal tranquilizer xylazine, which increases life-threatening impacts. Our bipartisan legislation that has passed the House would track the manufacture of xylazine and ensure law enforcement has the resources needed to crack down on illegal drug traffickers,” said Rep. Pappas. “I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation, and I’ll continue pushing forward comprehensive solutions that will combat our ongoing addiction epidemic.”

Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is an easily accessible veterinary tranquilizer that is being used by drug traffickers as a low-cost cutting agent for fentanyl. The 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, and ranchers who use xylazine to safely treat large animals. The bill is endorsed by 41 state attorneys general, major law enforcement organizations, and veterinary organizations.

“Illicit xylazine is worsening the deadly fentanyl crisis and tearing through communities across our country,” said Rep. Panetta. “Addressing the illicit spread of xylazine has been a priority under both the Biden and Trump Administrations, and this unanimous House passage demonstrates the broad, bipartisan consensus behind taking action against this dangerous drug. The bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would help us fight back by giving law enforcement the tools needed to crack down on traffickers while ensuring that veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers can continue to use the drug safely and responsibly. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this bill before the end of this Congress so we can get it signed into law and save lives.”

“Thousands of Americans have died from overdoses of fentanyl laced with xylazine, but law enforcement still doesn’t have the tools it needs to properly combat this crisis. Now is the time for us to address this emergency while ensuring xylazine can still be used for veterinary medicine,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I applaud the House of Representatives for passing this life-saving bill, and I urge my Senate colleagues to get this legislation to the President’s desk.”

“I applaud the House for taking decisive action to crack down on xylazine traffickers, equip law enforcement with new tools to combat its spread and protect the drug’s legitimate use by veterinarians, ranchers and cattlemen. Congress has an obligation to protect Americans from the scourge of illicit xylazine and should continue to work in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion to get this lifesaving legislation signed into law,” said Sen. Grassley.

Specifically, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would:

• Schedule xylazine as a Schedule III illicit substance under the Controlled Substances Act; 
• Ensure veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers can still use the drug for its intended purpose by creating a clear definition of “ultimate user” — someone lawfully permitted to possess a controlled substance for legitimate use;
• Enable the DEA to track its manufacturing to ensure it is not diverted to the illicit market; and
• Require a report on prevalence, risks, and recommendations regarding xylazine.

Pappas reintroduced this bipartisan, bicameral legislation alongside Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), August Pfluger (TX-11), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Deborah Ross (NC-02), and Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05). Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reintroduced companion legislation in the Senate. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act previously passed the House last Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support.