ICYMI: Grassley, Cortez Masto, Pfluger and Panetta Call for Action on Illicit Xylazine

WASHINGTON– Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Reps. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) co-authored an op-ed inThe Hillcalling for immediate congressional action on theirCombating Illicit Xylazine Act.
“TheCombating Illicit Xylazine Actis a commonsense solution that will help keep deadly xylazine off the streets, without threatening the livelihood of farmers and ranchers nationwide. We urge our colleagues in Congress to join us in support of this legislation and work swiftly to pass it into law,”the lawmakers wrote.
Read the full op-edHEREand below.
Safeguarding lives: The urgent need for congressional action on illicit XylazineBy Sens. Chuck Grassley and Catherine Cortez Masto, and Reps. August Pfluger and Jimmy PanettaJuly 30, 2025The Hill
America’s opioid epidemic has entered a new and especially dangerous phase, as synthetic fentanyl and deadly additives devastate families and communities across the country. Congress must act now to equip law enforcement with the resources and tools they need to keep communities safe, while preventing unintended consequences on hardworking veterinarians, farmers and ranchers.
Today, foreign manufactured, illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances drive the opioid epidemic. Despite being 50 to 100 times stronger than their prescription counterparts, these synthetic opioids are often mixed with toxic cutting agents to increase potency and street value, while decreasing production costs.
In recent years, cartels and criminal organizations have increasingly usedxylazine, a powerful veterinary sedative, as a low-cost cutting agent for illicit fentanyl. This lethal combination is known as “tranq.”
Designated as anemerging threatto the United States in 2023, illicit xylazine poses grave health and safety risks when ingested by humans, including depressed breathing and heart rate, unconsciousness, severe necrosis and death. As of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration hadseized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 states.
At the same time, licit xylazine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for veterinary use since 1972 and remains a critical tool for veterinarians, farmers and ranchers. They use this drug to treat livestock and wildlife. In cattle, xylazine is the only safe and effective drug. There is no alternative.
Currently, the DEA is in the process of making xylazine a controlled substance; however, scheduling xylazine without protecting its legitimate use may limit veterinary professionals’ ability to treat animals and could increase the risk of supply disruption. Further, given xylazine is a low-volume, low-margin, generic animal drug, high regulatory burdens could force the few remaining domestic manufacturers to discontinue production altogether.
Congress must fight the spread of illicit xylazine while preserving its veterinary use.
That’s why, over the last two years, we’ve worked with congressional colleagues, federal agencies and stakeholders like the American Veterinary Medical Association to craft a solution that achieves both goals, titled theCombating Illicit Xylazine Act. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill classifies xylazine as a Schedule III drug under theControlled Substances Actand contains several statutory provisions to preserve veterinary professionals’ access and provide the DEA transparency into xylazine’s market. This added market transparency would allow law enforcement to better track the legitimate sales of xylazine, as well as how the drug is diverted to the black market or illegally imported from China.
Last Congress, language containing core components of theCombating Illicit Xylazine Actpassed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. This Congress, we reintroduced the bill with updated language to strengthen its provisions. Our legislation is supported by the DEA, multiple law enforcement organizations, including theNational Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Attorneys General and 30 state attorneys general, and all 50 stateveterinary medical organizations. Attorney General Pam Bondi alsoadvocatedfor the scheduling of xylazine on her first day in office.
More than half of states have passed, proposed or implemented xylazine-related legislation or regulations. Passing theCombating Illicit Xylazine Actwould alleviate this growing patchwork of state-by-state xylazine restrictions. Congressional inaction would compromise the DEA’s ability to effectively combat the ongoing drug epidemic and weaken the nation’s public health infrastructure.
TheCombating Illicit Xylazine Actis a commonsense solution that will help keep deadly xylazine off the streets, without threatening the livelihood of farmers and ranchers nationwide. We urge our colleagues in Congress to join us in support of this legislation and work swiftly to pass it into law.
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