Senators Hassan and Cornyn Introduce Bill to Improve Fentanyl Detection at Northern and Southern Borders

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) recently introduced the Contraband Awareness Technology Catches Harmful (CATCH) Fentanyl Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would help improve the process for inspecting cars, trucks, and cargo containers for fentanyl and other forms of

contraband at both the Northern and Southern borders by requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to test new detection pilot projects while considering cost effectiveness, wait times, and existing infrastructure needs at land ports of entry.  

“We must use every tool at our disposal to detect and seize illegal drugs like fentanyl before they reach our streets,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen our infrastructure at the border and identify the most up-to-date, effective, and efficient technology to help law enforcement catch the fentanyl that is being smuggled over the border and into our communities. I will continue to work with my colleagues across the aisle to get law enforcement agencies the resources that they need to tackle the fentanyl crisis.” 

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security and target drug trafficking. Earlier this year, the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, a bipartisan bill backed by Senator Hassan that empowers law enforcement with research, information, and technologies to find and eliminate illegal deadly drugs, was signed into law. Additionally, in December, Senator Hassan worked with her colleagues to pass into law her bipartisan legislation to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and its contractors are operating as effectively as possible at the Southern border.