Why it Matters

How to combat a veterinary sedative that has become one of the most dangerous substances in the illicit drug supply is heading toward a Senate Judiciary Committee vote — and the outcome could reshape how federal law treats a substance that has no antidote and is increasingly found alongside fentanyl in overdose deaths across the country.

The Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting, scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 216 Hart Senate Office Building, will put three pieces of legislation to a committee vote: the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, and the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025. The committee will also consider two U.S. Marshal nominations.

The Xylazine Problem Reaches Capitol Hill

The centerpiece of the Senate Judiciary legislation heading to a vote is S. 545, which would classify illicit xylazine — street name "Tranq" — as a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Xylazine is a large-animal veterinary sedative that has no approved use in humans, carries no approved overdose reversal agent, and causes severe, necrotic skin wounds in people who inject it.

The DEA, in materials cited ahead of the committee vote, stated that "xylazine is a significant public health threat due to its ongoing presence in the illicit drug supply."

The bill's bipartisan backing — led by Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) — reflects the broad political consensus that xylazine's spread demands a federal response. S. 545 would establish criminal penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for illicit distribution, rising to 15 years if death or serious bodily injury results. It also directs the DEA to coordinate with the FDA on tracking illicit supply chains and includes a phase-in period for legitimate manufacturers.

The legislation threads a difficult needle: it targets illicit use while explicitly protecting xylazine's continued availability for veterinary medicine. The American Veterinary Medical Association has expressed support for the bill, stating that "any legislative or regulatory interventions to combat illicit xylazine need to safeguard the availability of veterinary prescription xylazine and its responsible use." The AVMA has been one of the most active lobbying voices on the legislation, filing disclosures in both the third and fourth Quarters of 2025. The University of Wisconsin-Madison also filed a lobbying disclosure on the bill in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting engagement from the research community.

Not all stakeholders are aligned. A coalition letter from the R Street Institute and the Drug Policy Alliance, addressed directly to Chairman Grassley ahead of the vote, raised concerns about the scheduling approach for xylazine and related substances.

The Other Bills on the Docket

H.R. 2159, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, passed the House and now comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. The bill would require the Department of Justice to compile and publish a comprehensive database of all federal criminal statutory offenses, and direct federal agencies to do the same for criminal regulatory offenses. Supporters argue the federal criminal code has grown so expansive that ordinary citizens cannot reasonably know what conduct is prohibited.

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has been the most consistent lobbying presence on this legislation, filing disclosures across all four quarters from the First Quarter of 2025 through the Fourth Quarter of 2025.

S. 2934, the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025, would bar civil claims in U.S. federal courts — and block enforcement of foreign judgments — where the alleged harm stems from a party's compliance with U.S. sanctions imposed after a contract was executed. The bill is designed to prevent foreign entities from using American courts to seek compensation for losses tied to U.S. sanctions compliance. Lawyers for Civil Justice filed lobbying disclosures on civil litigation reform issues across three consecutive quarters in 2025, making it the most active filer in this area.

Who Runs the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Chairman Grassley opened the business meeting with remarks focused on the xylazine legislation. Ranking Member Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) leads the Democratic side of the 23-member panel, which includes Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Ashley Moody (R-FL), among others.

The committee will also vote on the nominations of Brian Gootkin to serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of Montana and James Stuart to serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of Minnesota.

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