H.R. 4761House116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019

Introduced October 18, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 8:57 AM UTC

The DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019 directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve the ability to detect synthetic opioids at U.S ports of entry. Within 180 days, CBP must ensure its chemical screening tools can identify opioids at purity levels of 10 percent or lower, or provide alternative detection methods, and must test new devices before purchase. DHS must also create a long‑term plan for a centralized spectral database that stores and distributes updated drug spectra to screening equipment.

Key Provisions

  • CBP must develop and implement a strategy, within 180 days, so that deployed screening devices can detect opioids at 10 % purity or less, or supply an alternate detection method for lower‑purity substances.
  • CBP must test any new chemical screening devices to understand their ability to identify narcotics at various purity levels before committing to acquire them.
  • The DHS Secretary must, within 180 days, establish a plan for a centralized spectral database that collects, stores, and distributes newly identified drug spectra to screening devices used at ports of entry.
  • The plan must also designate who is responsible for updating and maintaining the spectral database.

Legislative Activity

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24 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-254.

December 23, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 18, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

October 18, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

October 18, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported.

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 116-319, Part I.

December 3, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

December 3, 2019

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 260.

December 3, 2019

HouseFloor

Ms. Clarke (NY) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

December 9, 2019 • 4:07 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9367-9369)

December 9, 2019 • 4:07 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4761.

December 9, 2019 • 4:07 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

December 9, 2019 • 4:17 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9380-9381)

December 9, 2019 • 6:32 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 393 - 1 (Roll no. 655).(text: CR H9367)

December 9, 2019 • 7:02 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 393 - 1 (Roll no. 655). (text: CR H9367)

December 9, 2019 • 7:02 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

December 9, 2019 • 7:02 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

December 10, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

March 11, 2020

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 116-244.

July 29, 2020

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 502.

July 29, 2020

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7243)

December 7, 2020

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 8, 2020

President

Presented to President.

December 11, 2020

Became Law

Signed by President.

December 23, 2020

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-254.

December 23, 2020

Bill Text

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One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

At the Second Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty

H. R. 4761

AN ACT

To ensure U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, agents, and other personnel have adequate synthetic opioid detection equipment, that the Department of Homeland Security has a process to update synthetic opioid detection capability, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019.

2.

Strategy to ensure detection of all opioid purity levels at ports of entry

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall—

(1)

implement a strategy to ensure deployed chemical screening devices are able to identify in an operational environment narcotics at purity levels less than or equal to 10 percent, or provide ports of entry with an alternate method for identifying narcotics at lower purity levels; and

(2)

require testing of any new chemical screening devices to understand the abilities and limitations of such devices relating to identifying narcotics at various purity levels before CBP commits to the acquisition of such devices.

3.

Plan to ensure opioid detection equipment resiliency

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement a plan for the long-term development of a centralized spectral database for chemical screening devices. Such plan shall address the following:

(1)

How newly identified spectra will be collected, stored, and distributed to such devices in their operational environment, including at ports of entry.

(2)

Identification of parties responsible for updates and maintenance of such database.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.