S. 993 · 118th Congress

Sets federal criminal penalties for illicit use of xylazine, an animal sedative

Official title: Combating Illicit Xylazine Act1

Never got a floor vote

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

The bill would make it a federal crime to make, distribute or dispense xylazine for illicit use in people, or to possess it with intent to do so, with penalties matching those for Schedule III controlled substances.2,3 Xylazine, also called tranq, is a sedative approved for use in animals, and the Drug Enforcement Administration has reported a rise in trafficking of fentanyl mixed with it.3 Penalties would be up to 10 years in prison, or up to 15 years if death or serious injury results, plus fines, and the DEA would have to report with the Food and Drug Administration on illicit xylazine use, which the bill declares an emerging drug threat.3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, January 11, 2024: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.1
IntroducedMarch 28, 2023
SponsorSen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Cosponsors30 cosponsors (15 Republican, 15 Democratic)
Official recordS. 993 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, January 11, 2024: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (9)