Pfluger leads bipartisan efforts to tackle the synthetic drug trade

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act.

The legislation targets lethal drugs that are substantially similar to already controlled substances but are carefully designed — often in China or Mexico — to slip into the U.S. undetected, according to information from Pfluger’s office.

Congressman Pfluger was joined by Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Russell Fry (SC-07), and Don Davis (NC-01). The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

“Drug traffickers continually exploit loopholes in our laws by creating drugs that mimic the effects of controlled substances but not yet classified as illegal in order to circumvent regulations,” said Rep. Pfluger. “The SIMSA Act will give law enforcement the tools they need to stay one step ahead of these criminals and protect our communities from these emerging drug threats. By increasing the DEA’s ability to quickly respond to these new agents, we are taking a critical step in the fight against the opioid crisis and other drug-related harms.”

“The federal government must be more agile when it comes to effectively responding to the surge of new synthetic drugs on our streets,” said Rep. Panetta. “By creating a new Schedule A, we can better target substances designed to circumvent existing bans. and holding drug traffickers accountable. The federal government should take this step and provide these types of tools to help our local law enforcement keep our communities safe.”

“I’m proud to introduce the Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues Act to crack down on the synthetic drugs plaguing our communities across the country,” said Rep. Fry. “This legislation will help our law enforcement stop this flow of deadly drugs and ultimately save lives.”

“Congress must crack down on illegal narcotics, including fentanyl, to prevent them from escaping detection,” said Congressman Don Davis. “We owe it to families across eastern North Carolina and America.”

“International drug traffickers are taking advantage of a gap in our legislation. This has created a deadly game of ‘whack-a-mole’. The SIMSA Act sends an explicit message that the US is done playing,” said Senator Grassley. “Law enforcement is struggling to keep up with the inefficient planning system we have in place, and communities are facing an unprecedented drug crisis as a result. Our legislation provides the much-needed adaptability to stay ahead of bad actors and their deadly synthetics.”

“Communities across New Hampshire have been devastated by fentanyl and other deadly drugs. Fentanyl analogs pose as serious a danger as fentanyl itself, and criminals have deliberately developed these drugs to circumvent our laws and circumvent bans,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan legislation will provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to crack down on the criminals flooding our streets with these drug analogues. I urge my colleagues to support these efforts to protect our communities and save lives, and I will continue to work to combat the fentanyl crisis.”

Background:

U.S. law prohibits the unauthorized use of certain controlled substances. However, illegal drug manufacturers and importers circumvent these laws by altering individual atoms in controlled substances to create modified drugs that are not yet banned but have similar effects on users. Currently, uncontrolled substances must undergo a time-consuming analysis before the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can schedule them permanently.

The SIMSA Act allows DEA to designate substances as Schedule A if (1) their chemical structure is substantially similar to a controlled substance and (2) they are expected to have the same or greater effect on the human body. The bill subjects individuals who produce, export, and import these uncontrolled substances to the criminal penalties associated with Schedule A. It also includes provisions to ensure that legitimate research into Schedule A substances can continue. According to information from Pfluger’s office, SIMSA gives law enforcement agencies the tools they need to keep track of drug cartels and emerging drug threats.