Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s Statement on 39 Attorneys General Call for Action to Pass his Legislation to Combat Illicit Xylazine
Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) released the following statement on a letter from 39 state Attorneys General urging Congressional leadership to expeditiously pass his bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act:
“The rise of xylazine-adulterated fentanyl across our country is a threat to our public health and public safety. The illicit trafficking and mixing of this veterinary tranquilizer with fentanyl, makes the already dangerous drug cheaper, more addictive, deadlier. With common overdose treatments like naloxone proving ineffective to reverse its effects, this toxic brew, which has already been found in 48 states, risks accelerating fentanyl related deaths in every community. I’m proud to have the support of 39 Attorneys General for my legislation, which would give law enforcement at every level the necessary resources and tools to track illicit xylazine and hold accountable those trafficking this drug into our communities. The legislation’s targeted approach would allow the legitimate use of xylazine for agriculture to continue, while preventing its misuse and abuse on our streets. There is broad, bipartisan, bicameral support for my legislation in Washington, D.C., and the bill is backed by veterinarians, the agriculture community, and law enforcement. Top state law enforcement officials, from across the country and political spectrum, have made it clear that they need the federal government and Congress to act now to help prevent the proliferation of xylazine by passing my legislation.”
Rep. Panetta authored the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act and introduced it with Reps. August Pfluger (TX-11), Gus Bilirakis (Fl.-12), Ken Buck (CO-04), and Chris Pappas (NH-01) with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
Despite alarming reports about the rise of xylazine-adulterated fentanyl, federal, state, and local law enforcement do not have the tools necessary to effectively track it or crack down on traffickers using it to increase their profits.
The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would address this gap in federal law by:
- Classifying its illicit use under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act;
- Enabling the DEA to track its manufacturing to ensure it is not diverted to the illicit market;
- Requiring a report on prevalence, risks, and recommendations to best regulate illicit use of xylazine;
- Ensuring all salts and isomers of xylazine are covered when restricting its illicit use;
- Declaring xylazine an emerging drug threat.
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