118 S2098 IS: Partnership for Advancing Regional Training and Narcotics Enforcement Response Strategies Act U.S. Senate 2023-06-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2098IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 21, 2023Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. King) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed ServicesA BILLTo require the Secretary of Defense to establish a military training program with the Government of Mexico in the United States, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Partnership for Advancing Regional Training and Narcotics Enforcement Response Strategies Act or the PARTNERS Act.

2.

Statement of policy on military capacity building and security cooperation with the Government of Mexico

It is the policy of the United States Government to counter the threat posed by transnational criminal organizations, including through military capacity building and security cooperation with the Government of Mexico.

3.

Building the capacity of armed forces of Mexico to counter threat posed by transnational criminal organizations

(a)

Pilot program

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall establish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of building the capacity of armed forces of Mexico in the United States on goals, jointly agreed to by the Governments of the United States and Mexico, to counter the threat posed by transnational criminal organizations, including through— (1)operations designed, at least in part, by the United States, to counter that threat; and(2)in consultation with the appropriate civilian government agencies specializing in countering transnational criminal organizations—(A)joint network analysis; (B)counter threat financing; (C)counter illicit trafficking (including narcotics, weapons, and human trafficking, and illicit trafficking in natural resources); and (D)assessments of key nodes of activity of transnational criminal organizations. (b)

Plan

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan for implementing the pilot program required by subsection (a) over a period of five years, including the costs of administering the program during such period. (2)

Definition of appropriate congressional committees

In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means—(A)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.