Both sides have signed this (Bill Ranking)
H.R. 1561 · 119th Congress (2025-2026)
2 members · Left 1 · Center 0 · Right 1 (Bill Ranking)
| Sponsor | Rep. Crockett, Jasmine (D-TX) (Introduced 02/25/2025) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Voting Record | Lean left · DW-NOMINATE -0.49 · measured from every roll-call vote this member has cast (voteview.com) (Sponsor Ranking) |
| Support |
LLLCLRR support across the spectrum: 2 members signed on (Bill Ranking) this bill: sponsor + current cosponsors, each once |
| Committees | House - Energy and Commerce Committee; House - Energy and Commerce Committee; House - Energy and Commerce Committee |
| Latest Action | 07/21/2026 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0. |
| Roll Call Votes | There have been no roll call votes |
| Source | view on congress.gov → |
Introduced in House (02/25/2025)
Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act or the ALERT Communities Act
This bill establishes programs and requirements to advance the development and usage of test strips that detect the presence of certain hazardous drugs (e.g., fentanyl, xylazine).
Currently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides grants to government entities to train and provide authorized equipment to first responders and other relevant personnel for emergency treatment of opioid overdoses. The bill expands these grants to include rapid response test strips for detecting the presence of fentanyl, xylazine, and other synthetic opioids or emerging substances in people or within other drugs.
Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish guidance and standards for test strip manufacturers to support the development, evaluation, and authorization of test strips.
Also, HHS must conduct a study and report to Congress on how the availability and usage of test strips and similar equipment impacts the frequency of overdoses and participation in substance use disorder treatment.
119 HR 1561 IH: Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-02-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1561IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 25, 2025Ms. Crockett (for herself and Mr. Gooden) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo 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.
1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act or the ALERT Communities Act.
2.First responder trainingSection 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)..
3.Research and marketing frameworks for test strip technologyThe 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).
4.Study on fentanyl test strip interventionsThe 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).
5.DefinitionIn 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.
The bill's own words, from our database (synced from the GPO BILLS XML); paragraph breaks added at the bill's section boundaries, nothing else changed.
| Date | Chamber | All Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 02/25/2025 | Library of Congress | Introduced in House |
| 02/25/2025 | Library of Congress | Introduced in House |
| 02/25/2025 | House floor actions | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
| 02/25/2025 | House committee actions | Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. |
| 06/25/2026 | House committee actions | Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held |
| 06/25/2026 | House committee actions | Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. |
| 07/20/2026 | House committee actions | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held |
| 07/21/2026 | House committee actions | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held |
| 07/21/2026 | House committee actions | Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0. |
| Title Type | Title |
|---|---|
| Display Title | ALERT Communities Act |
| Short Title(s) as Introduced | ALERT Communities Act |
| Short Title(s) as Introduced | Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act |
| Official Title as Introduced | 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. |
There are no amendments to this bill.
* = Original cosponsor
| Committee | Activity |
|---|---|
| House - Energy and Commerce Committee | 07/21/2026 Markup By |
| House - Energy and Commerce Committee | 07/20/2026 Markup By |
| House - Energy and Commerce Committee | 02/25/2025 Referred To |
No related bill information was received for H.R. 1561.
Policy Area: Health
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