Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act | ChamberLight

PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 8535Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationSmuggling and trafficking

Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to create formal measurements for finding and stopping fentanyl.AI-written

INTRO APR 27· LAST ACTION JUL 14

PASSAGE CHANCESLONG SHOT

10%

READING

1MIN

COSPONSORS

3BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

Introduced only
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tl;dr

AI-written

Creates a data-driven 'report card' to measure how effectively the government stops fentanyl smuggling.

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

Fentanyl is a major contributor to overdose deaths in the U.S., yet it is often smuggled in small, hard-to-detect quantities. Without formal performance metrics, it is difficult for the public or lawmakers to know if current border technology and staffing are truly making a dent in the supply or if smugglers are simply finding easy ways around them. Standardized measurements would force a more honest look at the gaps in national drug security.

KEY PROVISIONS

4AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Development of standardized performance metrics

Moves the department toward data-driven decisions rather than relying on inconsistent or anecdotal evidence of success.

PROVISION 02

Focus on detection effectiveness

Ensures that expensive scanning technology and K-9 units are actually finding drugs at a high rate.

PROVISION 03

Measurement of deterrence

Attempts to track whether DHS actions are actually making smugglers change their behavior or stop their attempts entirely.

PROVISION 04

Focus on seizure volume and accuracy

Provides a baseline to compare how much fentanyl is caught versus the estimated total amount being smuggled.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 3

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 67%

DEM 1 REP 2 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

20 EVENTS

JUL 14

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

SENATE · INTROREFERRAL

JUL 13

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 119-742.

COMMITTEE

JUL 13

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 646.

CALENDARS

JUL 13

Mr. Garbarino moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

HOUSE · FLOOR

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 8535

Congress119th

StatusPassed House

IntroducedApr 27, 2026

Last actionJul 14, 2026

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PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS · HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED APR 27, 2026

House BillHR 8535Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationSmuggling and trafficking

Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to create formal measurements for finding and stopping fentanyl.AI-written

INTRODUCED APR 27, 2026· LAST ACTION JUL 14, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

10%

READING

1 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Simple

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

tl;dr

AI-written

Creates a data-driven 'report card' to measure how effectively the government stops fentanyl smuggling.

READING TIME

1 min

WORDS

282

Read full bill (PDF) ↗

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

low

Development of standardized performance metrics

Moves the department toward data-driven decisions rather than relying on inconsistent or anecdotal evidence of success.

med

Focus on detection effectiveness

Ensures that expensive scanning technology and K-9 units are actually finding drugs at a high rate.

high

Measurement of deterrence

Attempts to track whether DHS actions are actually making smugglers change their behavior or stop their attempts entirely.

med

Focus on seizure volume and accuracy

Provides a baseline to compare how much fentanyl is caught versus the estimated total amount being smuggled.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Performance metrics: Specific, measurable values used to evaluate how successful an organization is in reaching its targets.
Detection: The act of discovering the presence of illegal drugs using technology, physical searches, or trained animals.
Deterrence: Strategies or actions intended to discourage someone from committing a crime by making it too difficult or risky.
Interdiction: The legal action of intercepting and preventing the movement of prohibited goods like illegal drugs.

Official sources

HR 8535 on Congress.gov
Congress.gov bill page

This analysis used: Official title · Sponsor · Cosponsors

ACTION TIMELINE

20 EVENTS

JUL 14

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

JUL 13

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 119-742.

COMMITTEE

JUL 13

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 646.

CALENDARS

JUL 13

Mr. Garbarino moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

FLOOR

READER REACTIONS

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MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Homeland Security CommitteeReferred

Jul 13, 2026

house

Related Hearings

H.R. 3106, (Mr. Kennedy of New York) the “Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025”; H.R. 5109, (Mr. Carter of Louisiana) To require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration of the United States to develop guidelines to improve returning citizens' access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, to assist individuals in custody of Federal, State, and local prisons in pre-applying or preparing applications for Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards, and to assist individuals requesting an appeal or waiver of preliminary determination of ineligibility, and for other purposes; H.R. 5517, (Mr. Langworthy) the “Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act”; H.R. 7427, (Ms. Goldman of New York) the “SAFE VISITS Act”; H.R. 7436, (Mr. Magaziner) the “Department of Homeland Security Intelligence and Analysis Training Act”; H.R. 7443, (Mr. Pfluger) the “I&A Mission Reorientation Act of 2026”; H.R. 7448, (Ms. Pou) the “Modernizing and Improving the National Terrorism Advisory System Act of 2026”; H.R. 7574, (Mr. Evans of Colorado) the “ELO Realignment and Strategic Engagement Reform Act of 2026”; H.R. 8168, (Mr. Van Epps) the “Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act”; H.R. 8535, (Mr. Walkinshaw) the “Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act”; H.R. 8770, (Mr. Strong) the “SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026"; H.R. 8874, (Mr. Carter of Louisiana) the “Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026”; H.R. 8897, (Mr. Mackenzie) the “Improving Travel for American Families Act”; H.R. 9327, (Mr. Joyce of Ohio) the “PEARL Act”; H.R. 9328, (Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina) the “Improving Travel for Military Members Act”; H.R. 9382, (Mr. Kennedy of New York) the “NEXUS for Families Act”; H.R. 9388, (Mr. Gimenez) the “One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act”; H.R. 9391, (Mr. Garbarino) the “Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026”; H.R. 9394, (Mr. Strong) the “Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026”

Homeland Security Committee (house)Jun 24, 2026

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Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

GLOSSARY

Official sources

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

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Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

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