PRESS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7184
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-21: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-18T19:31:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Preventing Rogue Equipment for Synthetic Substances Act (PRESS Act) aims to strengthen U.S. efforts against the illegal production and importation of counterfeit controlled substances, such as synthetic opioids, by targeting the equipment used to manufacture them. It extends U.S. legal jurisdiction beyond its borders to prevent foreign-made pill presses and similar tools from being used to create drugs for illegal entry into the United States.
Key Provisions
- Extraterritorial Criminalization (Amendments to Section 1009 of the Controlled Substances Act): It becomes unlawful for any person, anywhere in the world, to manufacture or distribute specific equipment—including tableting machines (pill presses), encapsulating machines, press punches, die systems, gelatin capsules, or related chemicals/products—if they intend or know the equipment will be used to produce controlled substances (like opioids) or listed chemicals, and if those substances are meant for unlawful importation into the U.S. "Reasonable cause to believe" such importation will occur also triggers liability.
- Prohibited Acts and Penalties (Amendments to Section 1010): Violators face fines under federal law and imprisonment for set periods:
- Up to 20 years for violations involving certain high-risk chemicals.
- Up to 10 years for other specified violations.
- Up to 8 years for equipment-related offenses.
- Up to 15 years if the violation involves large quantities (e.g., over 1,000 kilograms of chemicals or more than 100 machines).
- Sentencing Guidelines Review: The U.S. Sentencing Commission must review and update federal sentencing guidelines to align with these new rules, ensuring consistent application in court.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which regulates drugs like fentanyl, to explicitly cover the international manufacture and distribution of manufacturing equipment, not just the drugs themselves.
- Introduces extraterritorial jurisdiction (applying U.S. law to actions outside the country) for equipment suppliers, building on existing CSA provisions that already reach abroad for drug-related offenses.
- Adds new penalty structures with tiered prison terms based on violation type and scale, replacing or clarifying prior vague penalties, and integrates them into broader CSA enforcement.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances tools for agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Customs and Border Protection to investigate and prosecute international networks supplying equipment for counterfeit drugs, potentially increasing border seizures and international cooperation.
- On Citizens: U.S. residents involved in importing or using such equipment face stricter penalties; it may deter domestic counterfeit drug production by cutting off supply chains.
- On International Relations: Could strain ties with countries manufacturing this equipment (e.g., in Asia), as U.S. authorities might pursue extraditions or sanctions, but it may foster alliances with nations combating the global synthetic drug trade.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law Enforcement and Prosecutors: Gain expanded authority to target global suppliers, affecting DEA, FBI, and U.S. Attorneys' offices.
- Drug Manufacturers and Traffickers: Illicit producers and importers of counterfeit substances, including those using pill presses for fentanyl-laced pills, face new risks of prosecution.
- Equipment Suppliers: Foreign and domestic manufacturers/distributors of pill-making tools, who must now assess U.S. import risks to avoid liability.
- U.S. Sentencing Commission and Courts: Responsible for guideline updates and handling increased cases with extraterritorial elements.
- International Partners: Governments and companies abroad involved in chemical/equipment trade, potentially subject to U.S. enforcement actions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the CSA's framework for combating the opioid crisis by closing loopholes in equipment regulation, but requires proving intent or knowledge, which could lead to complex evidentiary challenges in court.
- Constitutional: Builds on established precedents for extraterritorial application of U.S. drug laws (upheld by courts as not violating due process when tied to U.S. harms), without raising novel sovereignty issues.
- Political: Signals bipartisan priority on public health and border security (introduced by a diverse group of representatives), potentially influencing future drug policy debates, though enforcement abroad might spark diplomatic pushback from affected nations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]
Cosponsors (32)
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7], Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-21: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-21: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Preventing Rogue Equipment for Synthetic Substances Act — issued 2026-01-21 — PDF (5 pages)