Collins' TRANQ Act Gets Signed by Speaker Johnson and Sent to White House

December 18, 2023

Washington, D.C.—Legislation authored by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) gets signed by Speaker Mike Johnson and is now at the White House pending the President's signature. H.R. 1734, the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act, was the first bill written and introduced by the freshman congressman and originally passed the House on May 11 by a vote of 425-0. It then passed the Senate by unanimous consent with a minor amendment on June 22. That version of the legislation passed the House again on December 4.

Once the legislation is signed by the President, Rep. Collins will be the first freshman of the 118th Congress to have a bill become law.

"The TRANQ Research Act will give our local law enforcement and Border Patrol the resources needed to stem the flow of deadly substances like fentanyl pouring across the southern border into our communities," said Rep. Collins. "I look forward to seeing this critical piece of legislation signed into law."

Pictured left to right is Rep. Mike Collins, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas

Background

H.R. 1734 is Rep. Collins' first piece of legislation to pass both chambers and head to the President's desk for consideration.

The TRANQ Research Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to deepen its partnerships and strategically focus on the science needed to detect, identify, and better understand synthetic opioids. One particularly dangerous fentanyl analog contains xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer.

Tranq, also known as the “Zombie Drug,” has gruesome side effects, one of which causes large wounds that don’t heal and is resistant to standard opioid overdose treatments. Its use is skyrocketing across the country and contributing to an ever-growing number of drug overdoses.

Issues: Congress