S. 5234 – Reading Mode

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5234

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 12, 2022

Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Cardin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

A BILL

To modify statutory definitions relating to narcotics and drug trafficking, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting America from Narcotics and Illicit Chemicals Act of 2022 or the PANIC Act of 2022.

Definition of major illicit drug producing country

Section 481(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291(e)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (C), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon;

(B)

in subparagraph (D), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting ; or; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(E)

that is a significant direct source of covered synthetic drugs or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, including precursor chemicals when those chemicals are used in the production of such drugs and substances, significantly affecting the United States;

;

(2)

by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

(5)

the term major drug-transit country means a country through which are transported covered synthetic drugs or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances significantly affecting the United States;

;

(3)

in paragraph (7), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(4)

in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following:

(9)

the term covered synthetic drug has the meaning given that term in section 5558 of the FENTANYL Results Act.