# 119-hr-7184: PRESS Act

119-hr-7184, PRESS Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6] (R-NC); status in_committee (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7184
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-7184
- Congress: 119
- Title: PRESS Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2026-01-21
- Sponsor: Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6] (R-NC)
- Cosponsors: 32
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (32)

- Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5] (R-OK), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] (R-TX), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3] (R-GA), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2] (R-IN), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12] (R-TX), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10] (R-NC), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11] (R-NC), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3] (R-IN), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15] (R-OH), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8] (R-PA), 2026-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6] (R-TX), 2026-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13] (R-FL), 2026-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] (R-TX), 2026-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] (D-TX), 2026-02-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3] (R-TX), 2026-02-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24] (R-TX), 2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] (R-TX), 2026-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] (R-TX), 2026-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX), 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (R-LA), 2026-02-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] (R-FL), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9] (R-IN), 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] (R-NC), 2026-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] (R-OH), 2026-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ), 2026-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15] (R-FL), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14] (R-GA), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] (R-NJ), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7] (R-TN), 2026-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3] (R-FL), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on certain pill press equipment: benefit, medium. 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 be…
- Higher penalties for drug equipment crimes: cost, medium. 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…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act
- 119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025
- 119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.

## Sources
- [119-hr-7184 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7184)

## Related
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1502)
- [119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-425)
- [119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-452)
- [119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-38)
- [119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-719)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7184 (as of 2026-09-21).