# 119-s-938: Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025 119-s-938, Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] (R-PA); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-938 - As of: 2026-08-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-938 - Congress: 119 - Title: Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-03-11 - Sponsor: Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] (R-PA) - Cosponsors: 3 - Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement - Touches household money: no - Last recorded action: 2026-08-11 ## Summary **Creates a centralized interagency task force to coordinate and disrupt illicit synthetic narcotics trafficking.** The Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics would unite federal agencies and work with state, territorial, Tribal, and local partners to target trafficking networks, with emphasis on the People's Republic of China’s role. - Federal, state, territorial, Tribal, and local law enforcement would gain a centralized venue for information sharing, joint operations, raids, and coordinated prosecutions. - Prosecutors and investigators could pursue federal offenses tied to illicit synthetic narcotics and related crimes like money laundering, and the task force may bring cases involving non-U.S. persons in specified districts. - A Director appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate would report every 180 days and deliver a 2-year plan with goals and budget priorities. The task force would be barred from investigating individuals for personal drug use or low-level dealing unconnected to major trafficking networks. ## Cosponsors (3) - Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - New national task force for synthetic drugs: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would create a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics. The President would appoint the Director, and the Senate would confirm. The Director would report to the Attorney General and be paid at Executive Schedule Level II. Member agencies would keep their existin… - New powers to fight synthetic drug networks: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would give the task force authority to investigate and prosecute major illicit synthetic narcotics crimes. It would allow joint operations, raids, and coordinated tactical actions. It would require timely intelligence sharing and cooperation with state, territorial, Tribal, and… - Task force intelligence and planning offices: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require the task force to set up an intelligence coordination element, a strategic operational planning element, an Office of General Counsel, and an Office of Congressional Coordination. The intelligence office would analyze all-source trafficking data. The planning offi… - Limits on targeting personal drug users: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would bar the task force from investigating, targeting, or prosecuting people only for personal drug use. It would also bar enforcement against low-level dealing with no clear ties to larger trafficking networks. The Director could not direct operations outside the task force's… - Semiannual reports and two-year plans: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Director to report to key Senate and House committees within 180 days of enactment and every 180 days after. Each report must include a two-year plan, budget priorities, staffing and funding estimates, case statistics, and work on the People's Republic of Chin… - Definition of illicit synthetic narcotic: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would define "illicit synthetic narcotic" to include controlled substances, listed chemicals, and active ingredients used to make them. It would exclude natural substances and lawful medicines when a DEA import permit exists. The definition would rely on existing Controlled Sub… ## Related bills - 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act - 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 - 119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 - 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 - 119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 - 119-s-558: Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-s-938 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/938) ## Related - [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748) - [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541) - [119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5025) - [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241) - [119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1261) - [119-s-558: Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-558) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-938 (as of 2026-08-11).