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H.R. 6028: Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008

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H.R. 6028: Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2008-05-13 · International Affairs · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-05-13 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 393 (2008): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR6028 (2008-06-10), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008

Plain summary

Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Assistance for Mexico - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Security Assistance - (Sec. 112) Authorizes the President to provide assistance for Mexico for: (1) counternarcotics and countertrafficking; (2) port, airport, and related security to assist in controlling the Mexico-U.S. and Mexico-Central America borders; (3) intelligence gathering operational technology; and (4) public security and law enforcement, including assistance to the National Council Against Addiction (CONADIC). (Sec. 114) Prohibits assistance to any armed forces of Mexico or law enforcement unit of Mexico if the Secretary of State determines that there is credible evidence that such unit has committed gross human rights violations. Makes such prohibition inapplicable if the Secretary reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the government of Mexico is taking effective measures to bring the responsible unit members to justice. (Sec. 115) Authorizes FY2008-FY2010 appropriations to carry out this subtitle, with not more that specified amounts allocated to the armed forces for each of FY2008-2010. Prohibits FY2009 funds from being provided to the Mexican Secretariat of Public Security until the President determines that the Mexican National Registry of Police Personnel (Registro Nacional de Personal Policial) is operational at the federal, state, and local levels. Subtitle B: Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen Civilian Institutions - (Sec. 122) Authorizes the President to provide assistance to Mexico for: (1) institution building and the rule of law, including support for the Mexican Office of the Attorney General and for enhancing police professionalization; (2) anti-corruption, transparency, and human rights; (3) activities to prevent narcotics-related violence; and (4) employment and rural development programs. (Sec. 124) Authorizes FY2008-FY2010 appropriations to carry out this subtitle. Title II: Assistance for Countries of Central America - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Security Assistance - (Sec. 212) Authorizes the President to provide assistance to the countries of Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic) for: (1) counternarcotics, countertrafficking, and related security to combat narcotics trafficking and bulk currency smuggling; and (2) public security and law enforcement to combat transnational gangs. (Sec. 214) Prohibits providing assistance to any armed forces or law enforcement unit of a Central American country if the Secretary determines that there is credible evidence that such unit has committed gross human rights violations. Makes such prohibition inapplicable if the Secretary reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the government of the relevant Central American country is taking effective measures to bring the responsible unit members to justice. Authorizes FY2008-FY2010 appropriations to carry out this subtitle, including a set-aside for youth gang prevention activities. Subtitle B: Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen Civilian Institutions - (Sec. 221) Authorizes the President to provide assistance to the countries of Central America to build the capacity of justice systems and to reduce high impunity rates. Authorizes FY2008-FY2010 appropriations. Title III: Administrative Provisions - (Sec. 301) Prohibits the President from providing assistance under title I or title II of this Act for a fiscal year until the end of a 15-day period beginning on the date that the President transmits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination that specified requirements have been met. (Sec. 302) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) activities undertaken under titles I and II should be performed by employees and officers of the recipient country; and (2) the United States should limit the number of U.S. contractors. Caps: (1) at 50 the number of U.S. citizens or foreign nationals that may be retained as contractors to carry out title I (Mexico); and (2) at 100 the number of U.S. citizens or foreign nationals that may be retained as contractors to carry out Title II (Central America). Prohibits funds under this Act from being made available for budget support or cash payments. Provides for a national interest waiver. (Sec. 303) Prohibits, as of October 1, 2009, transfer of surveillance-related equipment to a recipient country unless the President determines that such country has cooperated with the United States to ensure that such equipment will be used principally for the purposes for which it is provided. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the President, notwithstanding a specified prohibition, to provide assistance under title I or title II to the police forces of recipient countries. (Sec. 305) States that authority to provide assistance under titles I and II is in addition to any other authority to provide assistance for Mexico and the countries of Central America. (Sec. 306) States that the Arms Export Control Act applies to all transfers of equipment under this Act unless otherwise specified. Title IV: Support Activities in the United States - (Sec. 401) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning measures taken to reduce U.S. drug demand. (Sec. 402) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) expand resources for the Project Gunrunner initiative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to identify, investigate, and prosecute firearms trafficking across the U.S.- Mexico border; and (2) provide ATF agents, equipment, and training to assist Mexican law enforcement officers in combating firearms trafficking and other criminal enterprises. Authorizes FY2008-FY2010 appropriations. (Sec. 404) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding measures taken to stop the flow of illegal precursor chemicals and bulk cash into Mexico. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - (Sec. 501) Directs the President to establish within the Department of State a Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Implement the Merida Initiative (with the rank of ambassador). (Sec. 502) Directs the President to: (1) develop metrics to identify and manage the progress of activities under this Act; and (2) use such metrics for resource allocations to combat narcotics and organized crime activities. (Sec. 503) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding programs and activities carried out under this Act during the preceding fiscal year. (Sec. 504) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. government requires an effective public diplomacy strategy to explain the Merida Initiative's purposes; and (2) the Secretary shall design and implement a public diplomacy campaign regarding the Merida Initiative. (Sec. 505) Sunsets this Act after September 30, 2010.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6028, Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008 (2008-05-21); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6028, Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008 (2008-05-21)

Cosponsors on this site

Henry Cuellar (D-TX)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (6)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Fiscal year
The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr6028 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110