PRIA Logo™
119-hr-7184119th Congress

PRESS Act

Sponsored By: Representative McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]

In Committee

Summary

Broadens criminal liability for equipment used to make illegal drugs intended for import into the United States. This bill would ban making, possessing, or selling tableting machines, encapsulating machines, press punches, die systems, gelatin capsules, and similar items when the person intends or knows they will be used to synthesize controlled substances that will be unlawfully imported, and it would increase criminal penalties and require sentencing guideline updates.

Show full summary
  • Equipment makers and sellers: People who make or sell pill presses, encapsulating machines, press punches, die systems, or gelatin capsules could face federal charges if they intend or know the items will be used to make drugs for import. Penalties include up to 20 years for offenses tied to List I chemicals and up to 15 years for large-scale cases involving more than 1,000 kilograms or more than 100 machines.
  • International suppliers and traffickers: The bill would reach conduct committed abroad when the person intends or knows the manufactured drugs will be unlawfully imported. That extends criminal exposure to foreign manufacturers, brokers, and shippers linked to U.S.-bound illicit synthesis.
  • Federal sentencing and courts: The United States Sentencing Commission would be required to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to reflect the new offenses and penalties. Judges would apply the revised guidelines in future prosecutions.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban on certain pill press equipment

This bill would make it illegal to make or sell tableting machines, encapsulating machines, press punches, die systems, gelatin capsules, or related equipment or chemicals when the person intends or knows they will be used to make illegal drugs and also intends, knows, or has reasonable cause to believe the resulting drugs will be unlawfully imported into the United States. The bill would add this specific prohibition to the Controlled Substances Act and to the list of banned acts. If enacted, these changes would take effect upon enactment.

Higher penalties for drug equipment crimes

This bill would raise prison maximums for people convicted of prohibited acts involving the listed equipment or chemicals. Violations involving a List I chemical in certain paragraphs could carry up to 20 years. Other specified violations could carry up to 10 years or up to 8 years, and large-scale cases involving more than 1,000 kilograms or more than 100 machines could carry up to 15 years. The bill would also direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and update federal sentencing guidelines in line with these changes. If enacted, these changes would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]

NC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

  • Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

  • Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2026

  • Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

  • Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

  • Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2026

  • Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2026

  • Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/23/2026

  • Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2026

  • Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/4/2026

  • Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 3/5/2026

  • Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/12/2026

  • Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 3/12/2026

  • Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 3/18/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/11/2026

  • Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation