Representative Jimmy Panetta and several colleagues sent a letter to the Trump Administration on May 8, voicing strong opposition to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s decision to end funding for illicit drug test strips. The lawmakers addressed their concerns in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., emphasizing that test strips are bipartisan, science-based tools critical in preventing deaths from synthetic opioids and new adulterants such as xylazine.
The issue is significant because Congress has repeatedly authorized and funded these test strips, including through last year’s reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act. The lawmakers argue that limiting funding goes against Congressional consensus and could put Americans at greater risk from emerging drug threats like xylazine.
“Communities across the country, including those we represent, are facing an increasingly volatile and dangerous drug supply,” wrote Panetta and his colleagues. “Fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose deaths nationwide, and the rise of xylazine and medetomidine-adulterated fentanyl has further complicated both overdose response and treatment. Test strips for fentanyl, xylazine, and other substances are proven, cost-effective public health tools to detect lethal adulterants, reduce the risk of fatality from illicit drug use.” They continued: “Eliminating federal support for these test strips would have immediate and damaging consequences. State, tribal, and local health agencies rely heavily on SAMHSA funding to distribute these supplies through trusted community partners, first responders, and public health departments. Removing this support would force many programs to scale back or shut down, increasing the likelihood of fatal overdoses—particularly in the rural and underserved communities that already experience treatment gaps.”
The letter was co-signed by Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Lori Trahan (MA-03), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
Panetta is also noted as lead author of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act—a bipartisan bill aimed at stemming illegal xylazine while protecting its legal use by veterinarians.
Jimmy Panetta is currently serving in Congress representing California’s 19th district after replacing Sam Farr in 2017; he graduated from University of California Davis with a BA in 1991 before earning his JD from Santa Clara University in 1996 according to bioguide.congress.gov.
In conclusion of their letter to Secretary Kennedy: “We respectfully request that HHS reverse any directive restricting funding for fentanyl or xylazine test strips and promptly clarify to grantees that these supplies remain eligible for federal support. Moving forward, we urge the administration to consult with Congress on this shared priority.”
