119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 7184
The Preventing Rogue Equipment for Synthetic Substances Act (PRESS Act) amends federal drug laws to crack down on the manufacture and distribution of pill press machines and related equipment used to produce counterfeit controlled substances intended for illegal import into the United States. The bill makes it illegal for anyone to manufacture or sell tableting machines, encapsulating machines, press dies, capsules, or related materials if they know or have reason to believe these items will be used to make drugs that will be unlawfully brought into America. Violations carry prison sentences ranging from 8 to 20 years depending on the specific offense and the quantity of chemicals or machines involved, with the most severe penalties applying to large-scale operations involving more than 1,000 kilograms of chemicals or 100 machines. The legislation also directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to update federal sentencing guidelines to reflect these new criminal provisions. The bill targets both domestic and foreign suppliers of drug manufacturing equipment, reflecting concerns about illicit drug production networks that feed narcotics into the American market.