Grassley, Cortez Masto Lead Bipartisan Effort to Crack Down on Illicit Xylazine

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to fight the spread of illicit xylazine. The Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act would classify this highly toxic sedative as Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, while protecting its legitimate use in large animal veterinary medicine. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and August Pfluger (R-Texas) are leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Attorney General Pam Bondi, on her first day in office, advocated for the scheduling of xylazine in an internal Department of Justice memo. 

“Illicit xylazine is contributing to the national drug epidemic and driving up overdose deaths in communities across the country. Our nation’s laws must keep pace with emerging drug trends,” Grassley said. “This bipartisan bill recognizes the lethal threat of xylazine and provides law enforcement new tools to combat its spread, while ensuring veterinarians, ranchers and cattlemen can continue to access the drug for legitimate animal treatment.” 

“Xylazine poses a growing threat across the Silver State, and our law enforcement officers simply don’t have the tools they need to keep our communities safe from this dangerous drug,” said Cortez Masto. “My bipartisan, bicameral bill would crack down on illegal use of xylazine while protecting its legitimate use by veterinarians and ranchers. It’s time for Congress to act now and pass this life-saving legislation.” 

Specifically, the Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act would: 

• Classify xylazine as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act; 
• Enable the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to track xylazine’s manufacturing; 
• Require a report on prevalence, risks and recommendations to best regulate xylazine; and 
• Ensure veterinarians, farmers and ranchers can still use xylazine for its intended purpose – to treat large animals – by clearly defining “ultimate user” as someone lawfully permitted to possess a controlled substance for legitimate use. 

The Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act is endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). 

“The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act strikes the right balance of helping address the public health threat of illicit xylazine while maintaining veterinary access to this critical animal sedative,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “Strongly endorsed by the AVMA, this legislation is essential to protecting our communities from the grave health and safety risks of illicit xylazine, upholding animal welfare, supporting public health, and ensuring our nation’s veterinarians are equipped with all the necessary resources to provide high-quality veterinary care.” 

Additional cosponsors include Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

Find bill text HERE. 

Background:

Xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer that bad actors use as a low-cost cutting agent for fentanyl. In 2022, the DEA found that 23 percent of the fentanyl powder seized across 48 states contained xylazine.  

Grassley this Congress also introduced the bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently classify illicit, fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. Both bills would provide law enforcement the tools they need to effectively combat the nation’s drug epidemic. 

-30-