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To require research with respect to fentanyl and xylazine test strips, to authorize the use of grant funds for such test strips, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Requires first responders and community members to be trained on carrying and facilitating access to fentanyl and xylazine test strips
- Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop research and marketing frameworks for test strip technology for detecting fentanyl and other dangerous substances
- Requires the frameworks to include standards and guidance for manufacturers and information on authorization pathways for test strips
- Mandates a study on the impact of drug checking supplies, including test strips, on overdose frequency, overdose deaths, and substance use disorder treatment engagement
- Requires the Secretary to submit a congressional report on the study results within 2 years of enactment
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] (R-TX)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Jasmine Crockett’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- DHR HEALTH $14,500
- MILLER WEISBROD OLESKY $7,750
- MATTHEWS SOUTHWEST $6,600
- COINBASE $6,600
- PIVOTAL VENTURES $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Jasmine Crockett → · Outside spending →
Actions (8)
- Jul 21, 2026 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0. · house
- Jul 21, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Jul 20, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Jun 25, 2026 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. · house
- Jun 25, 2026 Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Feb 25, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. · house
- Feb 25, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Feb 25, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Committee action
What happened to this bill in committee — the meetings where it was considered and every recorded vote taken on it.
Meetings where this bill was on the agenda
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2025
Ms. Crockett (for herself and Mr. Gooden) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To require research with respect to fentanyl and xylazine test strips, to authorize the use of grant funds for such test strips, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act” or the “ALERT Communities Act”.
SEC. 2. FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING.
Section 546(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee- 1(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
“(5) train and provide resources for first responders and members of other relevant community sectors on carrying and facilitating access to fentanyl or xylazine test strips (as defined in section 5 of the Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act).”.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND MARKETING FRAMEWORKS FOR TEST STRIP TECHNOLOGY.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, shall develop and make publicly available research and marketing frameworks for developing, improving, and evaluating test strip technology for detecting fentanyl and other dangerous substances. Such frameworks shall—
(1) include standards and guidance for manufacturers seeking to develop and test new test strip technology;
(2) emphasize bringing new test strip technology intended for testing human specimens in clinical settings to support on- site clinical decision-making; and
(3) include guidance on available authorization pathways for test strips described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
SEC. 4. STUDY ON FENTANYL TEST STRIP INTERVENTIONS.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
(1) conduct a study on the impact of the availability, accessibility, and usage of drug checking supplies, including test strips, on frequency of overdose, overdose deaths, and engagement in substance use disorder treatment; and
(2) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1).
SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term “test strip” means a rapid response, single use diagnostic that can be used to detect the adulteration of a drug with, or the presence in a human specimen of, any substance that may lead to increased morbidity or mortality, such as fentanyl, xylazine, or another synthetic opioid or emerging substance. <all>
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