Bill · S. 938· Senate(119-S-938)
Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 3/11/2025
- Last activity
- 3/11/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- David McCormick
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTF-ISN) to address the opioid crisis and substance abuse deaths in the United States. The task force will consist of representatives from various departments, including Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, and Defense. Led by a presidential appointee, the group aims to coordinate efforts to disrupt and prosecute synthetic narcotic trafficking. The mission includes conducting joint operations, raids, and addressing the role of the People's Republic of China in the crisis. The task force is also required to provide regular reports and briefings to Congress regarding its goals, budget, and investigative efforts.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?+5
The bill establishes a coordinated task force to disrupt and prosecute synthetic narcotic trafficking to combat the opioid epidemic.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill expands federal interagency coordination and task force authority to combat narcotics.
Does this tighten control of the border?+3
The bill enhances interagency coordination to combat drug smuggling at the borders.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Coordinated Fight Against the Opioid Crisis: The bill addresses a lack of a central entity for sharing information and coordinating efforts among different government agencies to combat the opioid epidemic (Section 2).
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Disruption of Trafficking Networks: The task force is empowered to direct counter-opioid activities, including investigations, raids, and joint operations to disrupt trafficking networks and bring offenders to justice (Section 5, Section 6(a)(8)).
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Targeted Enforcement Against Foreign Entities: The mission includes taking legal actions against foreign entities, specifically focusing on the role of the People's Republic of China in the opioid trade (Section 5, Section 6(a)(5)).
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Improved Information Sharing: The act facilitates the timely sharing of information between various task force members to aid in investigations (Section 6(a)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Scope of Prosecution: The bill explicitly states that the JTF-ISN is not authorized to investigate, target, or prosecute individuals for personal drug use or pursue enforcement actions against low-level drug dealing that lacks significant connections to larger trafficking networks (Section 9).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Middle Class Households+1Good For Rural Residents+1Good For Urban Residents+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3Improves Government Transparency+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Opioid Crisis Response+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+3
- 3/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania