March 11, 2025
Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Auchincloss, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, and Mr. Torres of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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
To establish the Joint Task Force to Counter the Illicit Synthetic Narcotics.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The United States is experiencing a crisis of substance abuse and addiction resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people of the United States. Most of these deaths involve some form of opioids.
(2)
There are many elements of Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local governments working to combat the opioid epidemic.
(3)
No central entity exists at the appropriate level whereby different agencies can share information and coordinate efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Controlled substance; listed chemical
The terms controlled substance and listed chemical have the meanings given the terms in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).
(2) Director
The term Director means the Director of the JTF–ISN.
(3) Illicit synthetic narcotic
The term illicit synthetic narcotic means—
(A)
a controlled substance with the exception of—
(i)
a substance of natural origin; or
(ii)
a medication—
(I)
that is lawful under the laws of the United States; and
(II)
for which the Drug Enforcement Administration has provided an import permit to the importing organization for the import of the medication;
(B)
a listed chemical; and
(C)
an active pharmaceutical ingredient or chemical that is used in the production of a controlled substance or listed chemical in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(4) JTF–ISN
The term JTF–ISN means the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics established under section 4.
Sec. 4. Establishment of joint task force to counter illicit synthetic narcotics
(a) In general
There is established a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics.
(b) Membership
The JTF–ISN shall be composed of representatives of the following entities:
(1)
The Department of Justice, including—
(A)
the Drug Enforcement Administration;
(B)
the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
(C)
assistant United States attorneys and trial attorneys, as the Director determines are appropriate.
(2)
The Department of the Treasury, including—
(A)
the Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force;
(B)
the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation;
(C)
the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network;
(D)
the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and
(E)
Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
(3)
The Department of Homeland Security, including—
(A)
Homeland Security Investigations;
(B)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including the National Targeting Center;
(C)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and
(D)
the United States Coast Guard.
(4)
The Department of State.
(5)
The Department of Commerce.
(6)
The Department of Defense.
(7)
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
(8)
Any other agency the Director deems appropriate.
(c) Director
(1) In general
The JTF–ISN shall be led by a Director who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(2) Compensation
The Director shall be compensated at the rate of basic pay prescribed for level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code.
(d) Reporting
(1) In general
The Director shall report to the Attorney General.
(2) Reports and briefings
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Director shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report, and upon request of the chairman or ranking member of any such committee, a briefing that includes—
(A)
a comprehensive plan covering the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the report is submitted or the briefing is made, as applicable, that includes—
(i)
a description of the goals of the JTF–ISN;
(ii)
description of areas of improvement with respect to collaboration among the participating agencies; and
(iii)
an estimate of the funding and staff needed for the continued work of the JTF–ISN;
(B)
a statement of the budget priorities of the JTF–ISN for each year in the 2-year period;
(C)
a description of the efforts of the JTF–ISN to investigate and prosecute illicit synthetic narcotics trafficking crimes, including raids conducted, assets seized, assets forfeited and indictments brought and convictions; and
(D)
efforts of the JTF–ISN to address matters related to the role of the People’s Republic of China in the opioids crisis.
Sec. 5. Primary missions of JTF–ISN
The primary mission of the JTF–ISN shall be to direct counter opioid and synthetic narcotics activities, including disruption activities and associated investigations, and provide strategic coordination on related activities, including sanctions enforcement, conducting joint operations, raids, and other tactical actions in coordination with Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies through memorandums of understanding such as legal actions against traffickers and foreign entities, particularly in the People’s Republic of China, complicit in the opioid trade.
Sec. 6. Authority and limitations
(a) Authority
The JTF–ISN shall be vested with power and authority to—
(1)
investigate and prosecute violations of Federal law relating to—
(A)
the trafficking of illicit synthetic narcotics and related offenses, such as money laundering and other financial crimes; and
(B)
smuggling, false statements, and any matter that arises or might arises directly from its investigations;
(2)
in the case of a prosecution relating to non-United States persons outside of the United States, bring a case—
(A)
in the district where the crime was committed;
(B)
in the district where the Drug Enforcement Administration is located; or
(C)
in a district described in section 3238 of title 18, United States Code;
(3)
facilitate the sharing of information between members of the JTF–ISN in a timely manner;
(4)
establish protocols for interagency referrals and procedures for referring cases to prosecuting and sanctions designating authorities as appropriate;
(5)
develop strategies to address the role of the People’s Republic of China in the illicit synthetic narcotics crisis;
(6)
work cooperatively with State, territorial, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies to combat and prosecute trafficking of illicit synthetic narcotics;
(7)
assess and improve existing methods of investigating and prosecuting illicit synthetic narcotics trafficking crimes; and
(8)
conduct direct operational activities, including joint operations, raids, and other tactical actions, to disrupt illicit synthetic narcotics trafficking networks and bring offenders to justice.
(b) Limitation
The Director may not direct the execution of operational activities outside the scope of counter-opioid efforts related to illicit synthetic narcotics suppliers and their networks pursuant to the primary missions of the JTF–ISN.
Sec. 7. Internal structure of JTF–ISN
(a) Intelligence coordination
The Director shall establish and maintain within the JTF–ISN an intelligence coordination element, which shall have primary responsibility within the United States Government for analysis of illicit synthetic narcotics and related trafficking organizations from all sources of intelligence, whether collected inside or outside the United States.
(b) Strategic operational planning
(1) In general
The Director shall establish and maintain within the JTF–ISN a strategic operational planning element, which shall provide strategic operational plans for counter-opioid operations conducted by the United States Government, and include the mission, objectives to be achieved, tasks to be performed, interagency coordination of operational activities, and the assignment of roles and responsibilities.
(2) Monitoring
The Director shall monitor the implementation of strategic operational plans and shall obtain information from each element of the intelligence community, and from each other department, agency, or element of the United States Government relevant for monitoring the progress of such entity in implementing such plans.
(c) Office of General Counsel
The Director shall establish and maintain within the JTF–ISN an Office of General Counsel, which shall provide legal advice in support of the JTF–ISN and its directorates.
(d) Office of Congressional Coordination
The Director shall establish and maintain within the JTF–ISN an Office of Congressional Coordination, which shall coordinate communications of the JFT–ISN with Congress and ensure compliance with reporting and briefing obligations under this Act.
Sec. 8. Retention of existing authorities
Each member of the JTF–ISN shall maintain their existing authorities to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes relating to illicit synthetic narcotics.
Sec. 9. Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the JTF–ISN to investigate, target, or prosecute individuals for personal drug use or to pursue enforcement actions against low-level drug dealing that does not involve significant connections to larger trafficking networks.