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H.R. 1561 119th Congress House

ALERT Communities Act

Official title: To require research with respect to fentanyl and xylazine test strips, to authorize the use of grant funds for such test strips, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 25, 2025 Introduced by: Jasmine Crockett Democratic · Texas See on congress.gov
Health Congressional oversightDrug trafficking and controlled substancesFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment studies and investigations
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Medical researchMedical tests and diagnostic methodsResearch administration and funding
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 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 21, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 21, 2026
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
Jul 20, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jun 25, 2026
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Jun 25, 2026
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Feb 25, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 25, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced in House
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What's happening now July 21, 2026

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Advancing Lifesaving Efforts with Rapid Test strips for Communities Act or the ALERT Communities Act

This bill establishes programs and requirements to advance the development and usage of test strips that detect the presence of certain hazardous drugs (e.g., fentanyl, xylazine).

Currently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides grants to government entities to train and provide authorized equipment to first responders and other relevant personnel for emergency treatment of opioid overdoses. The bill expands these grants to include rapid response test strips for detecting the presence of fentanyl, xylazine, and other synthetic opioids or emerging substances in people or within other drugs.

Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish guidance and standards for test strip manufacturers to support the development, evaluation, and authorization of test strips.

Also, HHS must conduct a study and report to Congress on how the availability and usage of test strips and similar equipment impacts the frequency of overdoses and participation in substance use disorder treatment. 

 Hearings & markups 3
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Lobbying activity 5

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

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 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Gooden, Lance
Texas · Feb 25, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1561: ALERT Communities Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1561/
MLA
"H.R. 1561: ALERT Communities Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1561/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1561, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1561/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1561: ALERT Communities Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1561/)
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