Ninety organizations, including major law enforcement groups and veterinary associations, are urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to move forward with the bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act ahead of a committee vote scheduled for Thursday, March 18. The bill is led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.
The legislation aims to address the growing problem of illicit xylazine use by classifying it as a Schedule III controlled substance while maintaining its legal use in large animal veterinary medicine. Supporters say this approach balances public health concerns with the needs of veterinarians and livestock producers.
The National Association of Police Organizations said, “Xylazine is now found in more than a third of all fentanyl powder tested by the Drug Enforcement Administration – up from 12% in 2021 to over 37% at the end of 2024 … The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would classify xylazine as a Schedule III drug, invoking penalties on those who choose to illicitly use and distribute the drug, giving law enforcement the tools necessary to fight the spread of this deadly poison in our communities. We respectfully urge the Committee to move this bipartisan legislation forward.”
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association stated, “Xylazine’s growing presence in the illicit drug supply is creating new dangers for communities and new challenges for law enforcement. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act provides investigators with important tools to track this substance and disrupt the criminal networks responsible for distributing it, while preserving legitimate veterinary uses. FLEOA thanks Chuck Grassley, Catherine Cortez Masto and the other bipartisan supporters of this legislation for their leadership in addressing this emerging threat. We urge Congress to move this important legislation forward.”
Victims’ advocacy groups such as Victims of Illicit Drugs (VOID) and Facing Fentanyl also voiced support: “Families impacted by fentanyl understand all too well how quickly a dangerous substance can spread across the country before meaningful action is taken… We now see similar patterns with the proliferation of xylazine in the illicit drug supply… We respectfully urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to move forward with the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act and demonstrate the leadership necessary to confront the evolving synthetic drug crisis.”
Veterinary organizations highlighted that after two years of discussions among stakeholders, congressional offices, and federal agencies, consensus was reached on scheduling xylazine under Schedule III while protecting its critical role in animal care. The American Veterinary Medical Association said, “This bipartisan, bicameral bill is the result of over two years of productive conversations between congressional offices and committees, stakeholder groups and federal agencies… We urge you to help protect public health, animal health and animal welfare by swiftly passing the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act.”
Federal agencies including the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Office of National Drug Control Policy have also expressed support for legislative action targeting illicit xylazine distribution while safeguarding its legitimate uses.
As Congress prepares for Thursday’s vote on advancing this bill out of committee, supporters from various sectors continue calling for swift passage as part of broader efforts against synthetic drugs.
