[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6028 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 6028


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 11, 2008

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To authorize law enforcement and security assistance, and assistance to 
   enhance the rule of law and strengthen civilian institutions, for 
  Mexico and the countries of Central America, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Merida Initiative 
to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization 
Act of 2008''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                     TITLE I--ASSISTANCE FOR MEXICO

Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Declarations of policy.
          Subtitle A--Law Enforcement and Security Assistance

Sec. 111. Purposes of assistance.
Sec. 112. Authorization of assistance.
Sec. 113. Activities supported.
Sec. 114. Limitation on assistance.
Sec. 115. Authorization of appropriations.
   Subtitle B--Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen 
                         Civilian Institutions

Sec. 121. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 122. Authorization of assistance.
Sec. 123. Activities supported.
Sec. 124. Authorization of appropriations.
         TITLE II--ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA

Sec. 201. Findings.
Sec. 202. Declarations of policy.
          Subtitle A--Law Enforcement and Security Assistance

Sec. 211. Purposes of assistance.
Sec. 212. Authorization of assistance.
Sec. 213. Activities supported.
Sec. 214. Limitation on assistance.
Sec. 215. Authorization of appropriations.
   Subtitle B--Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen 
                         Civilian Institutions

Sec. 221. Authorization of assistance.
Sec. 222. Activities supported.
Sec. 223. Authorization of appropriations.
                  TITLE III--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Conditions on provision of assistance.
Sec. 302. Limitations on provision of assistance.
Sec. 303. Limitation on monitoring.
Sec. 304. Exemption from prohibition on assistance for law enforcement 
                            forces.
Sec. 305. Relationship to other authority.
Sec. 306. Rule of construction.
           TITLE IV--SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

Sec. 401. Report on reduction of drug demand in the United States.
Sec. 402. Reduction of southbound flow of illegal weapons.
Sec. 403. Reduction of southbound flow of illegal precursor chemicals 
                            and bulk-cash transfers.
Sec. 404. Report.
                   TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Coordinator of United States Government Activities to 
                            Implement the Merida Initiative.
Sec. 502. Metrics and oversight mechanisms.
Sec. 503. Report.
Sec. 504. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 505. Sunset.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees''--
                    (A) means--
                            (i) the Committee on Appropriations and the 
                        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
                        Representatives; and
                            (ii) the Committee on Appropriations and 
                        the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                        Senate; and
                    (B) for purposes of titles IV and V, includes the 
                Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of 
                the Senate.
            (2) Countries of central america.--The term ``countries of 
        Central America'' means Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, 
        Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama and includes Haiti 
        and the Dominican Republic.
            (3) Merida initiative.--The term ``Merida Initiative'' 
        means the program announced by the United States and Mexico on 
        October 22, 2007, to fight illicit narcotics trafficking and 
        criminal organizations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

                     TITLE I--ASSISTANCE FOR MEXICO

SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The drug crisis facing the United States remains a 
        significant national security threat.
            (2) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates 
        that 90 percent of illegal drugs that enter the United States 
        come through the Mexico-Central America corridor.
            (3) The same smuggling routes that are used to bring 
        illegal narcotics north are utilized to illegally distribute 
        arms, precursor chemicals, and bulk cash transfers south.
            (4) Drug gangs that operate in the United States, Mexico, 
        and Central America have become sophisticated and vertically-
        integrated operations expert at penetrating the United States-
        Mexico border.
            (5) Narcotics-related activity and expanding cross-border 
        trafficking is dangerously undermining the security environment 
        for our neighbors to the South, as well as in the United 
        States.
            (6) Mexico can and has served as a critical ally and 
        partner in stemming the flow of illegal narcotics into the 
        United States. Under the leadership of Mexican President Felipe 
        Calderon, the United States and Mexico have initiated an 
        approach of joint responsibility to confront the threat of 
        illicit narcotics trafficking and organized crime in the 
        Western Hemisphere.
            (7) The spread of illicit narcotics through United States 
        borders and the violence that accompanies it cannot be halted 
        without a comprehensive interdiction and security strategy 
        planned and executed jointly with our southern neighbors.
            (8) In March 2007, President George W. Bush and Mexican 
        President Calderon held a summit in the Mexican City of Merida 
        and agreed that the United States and Mexico must expand 
        bilateral and regional cooperation to fight violence stemming 
        from narcotrafficking and regional criminal organizations.
            (9) On October 22, 2007, the United States and Mexico 
        issued a joint statement announcing the Merida Initiative, a 
        program to fight illicit narcotics trafficking and criminal 
        organizations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
            (10) In the joint statement--
                    (A) Mexico pledged to ``strengthen its operational 
                capabilities to more effectively fight drug-traffickers 
                and organized crime'';
                    (B) the United States pledged ``to intensify its 
                efforts to address all aspects of drug trafficking 
                (including demand-related portions) and continue to 
                combat trafficking of weapons and bulk currency to 
                Mexico''; and
                    (C) both nations pledged to ``augment cooperation, 
                coordination, and the exchange of information to fight 
                criminal organizations on both sides of the border''.
            (11) A long-term strategy to adequately contain the 
        northbound and southbound flows of illicit narcotics along the 
        United States-Mexico border, as well as protect the vast and 
        free flow of trade, will require the United States to partner 
        with its southern neighbors in their efforts to build the 
        capacity of their own law enforcement agencies and enhance the 
        rule of law, as well as to fortify United States illicit 
        narcotics reduction efforts.

SEC. 102. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

    Congress makes the following declarations:
            (1) The Merida Initiative is a critical part of a growing 
        partnership and strategy of cooperation between the United 
        States and its southern neighbors to confront the illegal flow 
        of narcotics as well as violence and organized crime that it 
        has spawned.
            (2) The United States needs to ensure the free flow of 
        trade between the United States and its critical neighbor, 
        Mexico, while ensuring that the United States border is 
        protected from illegal smuggling into the United States.
            (3) The United States must intensify efforts to stem the 
        flow of precursor chemicals, bulk cash, and the so-called 
        ``iron-river'' of arms illegally flowing south, as well as 
        demand-related aspects of the illicit narcotics phenomenon.
            (4) The United States should provide its expertise to meet 
        immediate security needs along the United States-Mexico border, 
        fight the production and flow of illicit narcotics, and support 
        Mexico in its efforts to do the same.
            (5) The United States should support the Government of 
        Mexico's work to expand its own law enforcement to 
        independently conduct successful counternarcotics and organized 
        crime-related operations.
            (6) The Merida Initiative reflects the belief that Mexican 
        military involvement is required in the short-term to stabilize 
        the security situation, but that most aspects of this problem 
        fall into the realm of law enforcement.
            (7) In implementing the Merida Initiative, the United 
        States should work with its southern neighbors to mitigate the 
        so-called ``balloon effect'' in which successful 
        counternarcotics efforts shift narcotics-related activities to 
        other areas.
            (8) The United States should coordinate with the Congress 
        of the Union of Mexico to ensure full partnership on the 
        programs authorized under this Act.

          Subtitle A--Law Enforcement and Security Assistance

SEC. 111. PURPOSES OF ASSISTANCE.

    The purposes of assistance under this subtitle are to--
            (1) enhance the ability of the Government of Mexico, in 
        cooperation with the United States, to control illicit 
        narcotics production, trafficking, drug trafficking 
        organizations, and organized crime;
            (2) help build the capacity of law enforcement forces of 
        Mexico to control illicit narcotics production, trafficking, 
        drug trafficking organizations, and organized crime;
            (3) aid the support role that the armed forces of Mexico is 
        providing to law enforcement agencies of Mexico as the security 
        situation in Mexico is initially stabilized;
            (4) protect and secure the United States-Mexico border, and 
        control illegal activity going south as well as north;
            (5) strengthen the bilateral and regional ties of the 
        United States with Mexico and the countries of Central America 
        by assuming shared responsibility and offering concrete 
        assistance in this area of great mutual concern;
            (6) strengthen respect for internationally recognized human 
        rights and the rule of law in efforts to stabilize the security 
        environment relating to illicit narcotics production and 
        trafficking and organized crime; and
            (7) support the judicial branches of the Government of 
        Mexico and the countries of Central America, as well as support 
        anti-corruption efforts in those countries; and
            (8) respond to the direct requests of the Government of 
        Mexico that the United States reduce the demand for illicit 
        narcotics in the United States, stem the flow of illegal arms 
        into Mexico from the United States, stem the flow of illegal 
        bulk-cash transfers into Mexico from the United States, and 
        stem the flow of illegal precursor chemicals into Mexico from 
        the United States.

SEC. 112. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.

    To carry out the purposes of section 111, the President is 
authorized to provide assistance for Mexico to support the activities 
described in section 113.

SEC. 113. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.

    (a) In General.--Activities that may be supported by assistance 
under section 112 include the following:
            (1) Counternarcotics and countertrafficking.--To assist in 
        building the capacity of law enforcement and security forces of 
        Mexico to eradicate illicit narcotics trafficking and reduce 
        trafficking-fueled violence, including along the United States-
        Mexico border, including assistance such as--
                    (A) radar and aerial surveillance equipment;
                    (B) land and maritime interdiction equipment and 
                training, including--
                            (i) transport helicopters and night-
                        operating capabilities;
                            (ii) surveillance platform planes; and
                            (iii) maintenance and training relating to 
                        maintenance of aircraft; and
                    (C) training of security and law enforcement units 
                to plan and execute counternarcotics operations.
            (2) Port, airport, and related security.--To assist in 
        monitoring and controlling the United States-Mexico border and 
        the border between Mexico and Central America to combat illicit 
        narcotics trafficking, including assistance such as--
                    (A) computer infrastructure and equipment;
                    (B) secure communications networks; and
                    (C) nonintrusive monitoring technology.
            (3) Operational technology.--
                    (A) Assistance objectives.--To assist in 
                investigation and collection of intelligence against 
                illicit drug trafficking organizations, including--
                            (i) expansion of intelligence databases; 
                        and
                            (ii) hardware, operating systems, and 
                        training for updating the communications 
                        networks of security agencies.
                    (B) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress 
                that--
                            (i) operational technology transferred to 
                        the Government of Mexico for intelligence or 
                        law enforcement purposes should be used solely 
                        for the purposes for which the operational 
                        technology was intended; and
                            (ii) the United States should take all 
                        necessary steps to ensure that use of 
                        operational technology described in clause (i) 
                        is consistent with United States law, including 
                        protections of freedom of expression, freedom 
                        of movement, and freedom of association.
            (4) Public security and law enforcement.--To assist in the 
        modernization of law enforcement entities and prevent crime, 
        including assistance and activities such as--
                    (A) law enforcement training and equipment, 
                including--
                            (i) transport helicopters;
                            (ii) surveillance aircraft, including 
                        Cessna Caravan light utility aircraft;
                            (iii) nonintrusive inspection equipment; 
                        and
                            (iv) human rights training for law 
                        enforcement units;
                    (B) enhancement of the Government of Mexico's 
                financial intelligence unit;
                    (C) safety-related equipment for law enforcement 
                officers and prosecutors, including protective vests 
                and helmet sets;
                    (D) reduction of drug demand in Mexico, including 
                activities such as--
                            (i) assistance to the National Council 
                        Against Addictions (CONADIC) to establish an 
                        Internet web-based support network;
                            (ii) establishment of a national data 
                        center to support the CONADIC; and
                            (iii) training of CONADIC and other agency 
                        staff in best practices and outreach and 
                        treatment programs, and design of a methodology 
                        to implement best practices in conjunction with 
                        the National Network for Technological 
                        Transfers in Addiction.
    (b) Provision of Helicopters.--Funds made available to carry out 
this subtitle to provide helicopters to the Government of Mexico, 
shall, to the extent possible, be used to procure or provide 
helicopters that are of a similar manufacture to those helicopters 
already in the possession of the Government of Mexico in order to 
facilitate integration of those assets into Mexico's existing air 
fleet.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States shall ensure, to the extent possible, that assistance under this 
subtitle is made available and cross-utilized by the armed forces of 
Mexico and relevant law enforcement agencies of the Government of 
Mexico, including the Mexican Office of the Attorney General.

SEC. 114. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Limitation.--No assistance may be provided under this subtitle 
to any unit of the armed forces of Mexico or any unit of the law 
enforcement agencies of Mexico if the Secretary of State determines 
that, consistent with section 620J of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d), there is credible evidence that such unit has 
committed gross violations of human rights.
    (b) Exception.--The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply if 
the Secretary of State determines and reports to the appropriate 
congressional committees that the Government of Mexico is taking 
effective measures to bring the responsible members of the unit of the 
armed forces or law enforcement agencies, as the case may be, to 
justice.

SEC. 115. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--To carry out this subtitle, there are authorized 
to be appropriated to the President $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
$390,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 
2010.
    (b) Limitation.--
            (1) In general.--Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to 
        the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a)--
                    (A) not more than $205,000,000 may be provided as 
                assistance for the armed forces of Mexico for 2008;
                    (B) not more than $120,000,000 may be provided as 
                assistance for the armed forces of Mexico for 2009; and
                    (C) not more than $9,000,000 may be provided as 
                assistance for the armed forces of Mexico for 2010.
            (2) Additional limitation.--None of the funds appropriated 
        pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under 
        subsection (a) for fiscal year 2009 may be provided as 
        assistance for 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.
    (c) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are--
            (1) authorized to remain available until expended; and
            (2) in addition to funds otherwise available for such 
        purposes, including funds available under chapter 8 of part I 
        of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291 et seq.).

   Subtitle B--Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen 
                         Civilian Institutions

SEC. 121. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that, as a critical part of a joint, 
comprehensive security, counternarcotics, and organized crime 
initiative, the United States should support--
            (1) programs of the United States Agency for International 
        Development and other United States agencies focused on 
        strengthening civilian institutions and rule of law programs in 
        Mexico at the federal, state, and local levels; and
            (2) anti-corruption, transparency, and human rights 
        programs to ensure due process and expand a culture of 
        lawfulness in Mexico.

SEC. 122. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.

    The President is authorized to provide assistance for Mexico to 
support the activities described in section 123.

SEC. 123. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.

    Activities that may be supported by assistance under section 122 
include the following:
            (1) Institution building and rule of law.--To assist 
        Mexico's efforts to expand the rule of law and build the 
        capacity, transparency, and trust in government institutions, 
        including assistance such as--
                    (A) rule of law and systemic improvements in 
                judicial and criminal justice sector institutions, 
                including--
                            (i) courts management and prosecutorial 
                        capacity building;
                            (ii) prison reform activities, including 
                        those relating to anti-gang and anti-organized 
                        crime efforts;
                            (iii) anti-money laundering programs;
                            (iv) victim and witness protection and 
                        restitution; and
                            (v) promotion of transparent oral trials 
                        via training for the judicial sector;
                    (B) police professionalization, including--
                            (i) training regarding use of force;
                            (ii) human rights education and training;
                            (iii) training regarding evidence 
                        preservation and chain of custody; and
                            (iv) enhanced capacity to vet candidates;
                    (C) support for the Mexican Office of the Attorney 
                General, including--
                            (i) judicial processes improvement and 
                        coordination;
                            (ii) enhancement of forensics capabilities;
                            (iii) data collection and analyses;
                            (iv) case tracking and management;
                            (v) financial intelligence functions; and
                            (vi) maintenance of data systems.
            (2) Anti-corruption, transparency, and human rights.--To 
        assist law enforcement and court institutions in Mexico to 
        develop mechanisms to ensure due process and proper oversight 
        and to respond to citizen complaints, including assistance such 
        as--
                    (A) enhancement of polygraph capability in the 
                Mexican Police agency (SSP);
                    (B) support for greater transparency and 
                accountability in the Mexican legal system, including--
                            (i) establishment of a center in the 
                        Mexican Office of the Attorney General for 
                        receipt of citizen complaints;
                            (ii) establishment of clerk of the court 
                        system to track cases and pretrial detentions;
                            (iii) reorganization of human and financial 
                        resources systems; and
                            (iv) equipping and training of criminal 
                        investigators; and
                    (C) promotion of human rights, including--
                            (i) support for human rights organizations, 
                        bar associations, and law schools; and
                            (ii) training for police, prosecutors, and 
                        corrections officers.
            (3) Prevention.--To assist in the prevention of individuals 
        from participating in illicit narcotics-related violent 
        activities, such as--
                    (A) establishment of programs that address domestic 
                violence and increase school attendance rates; and
                    (B) expansion of intervention programs, including 
                after-school programs and programs for at-risk and 
                criminal involved youth.
            (4) Development.--To assist in the development of areas 
        where lack of jobs breeds illicit narcotics-related violence, 
        including--
                    (A) expansion of alternative livelihood programs, 
                including job creation programs and rural development 
                programs and the provision of microenterprise 
                development assistance under title VI of chapter 2 of 
                part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
                2211 et seq.); and
                    (B) establishment of gang reeducation and training 
                programs.

SEC. 124. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--To carry out this subtitle, there are authorized 
to be appropriated to the President $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and $110,000,000 for fiscal year 
2010.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are--
            (1) authorized to remain available until expended; and
            (2) in addition to funds otherwise available for such 
        purposes, including funds available under chapter 8 of part I 
        of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

         TITLE II--ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA

SEC. 201. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) A May 2007 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs 
        and Crime (UNODC) argues that countries of Central America are 
        particularly vulnerable to violent crimes fueled by illicit 
        narcotics trafficking and corruption because such countries are 
        geographically located between the world's largest drug 
        producing and drug consuming countries.
            (2) According to Assistant Secretary of State for Western 
        Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon, ``[T]he nations of Central 
        America have committed to collective action to address these 
        common security concerns. Through the Central American 
        Integration System (SICA), the governments have expressed the 
        political resolve to join forces to strengthen regional 
        security; however they lack sufficient tools and capacity to 
        execute such will.''.
            (3) Crime and violence in Central America has increased in 
        recent years.
            (4) In 2005, the estimated murder rate per 100,000 people 
        was roughly 56 in El Salvador, 41 in Honduras, and 38 in 
        Guatemala.
            (5) Youth gang violence has been one of the major factors 
        contributing to increased violence in Central America, with the 
        United States Southern Command estimating that there are 70,000 
        gang members in Central America.
            (6) Many Central American youth gangs are transnational and 
        negatively impact both Central America and the United States.
            (7) Youth gang violence cannot be curbed only through 
        enforcement, but must also include a substantial investment in 
        prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
            (8) Deportees sent from the United States back to Central 
        America, while not a central cause of crime and violence, can 
        contribute to crime and violence in Central America.
            (9) Guatemala has experienced a surge in murders of women 
        in recent years, many of which have been committed by illicit 
        narcotics traffickers and other organized criminals.
            (10) Violence between partners, particularly violence by 
        men against their wives or girlfriends, is widespread in 
        Central America, and an international violence against women 
        survey comparing selected countries in Africa, Latin America, 
        Europe, and Asia found that 60 percent of women in Costa Rica--
        often considered the least violent country in Central America--
        reported having experienced domestic violence during their 
        lives.
            (11) Weak justice systems in the countries of Central 
        America have led to a high level of impunity in Central 
        America.
            (12) The United Nations International Commission against 
        Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) was recently created to begin to 
        address impunity related to illegally armed groups in 
        Guatemala.
            (13) The United States and the Central American Integration 
        System (SICA) signed an agreement in July 2007 to improve 
        intelligence sharing and policing and to institutionalize 
        dialogue on regional security.

SEC. 202. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

    Congress makes the following declarations:
            (1) A long-term United States strategy to curb illicit 
        narcotics trafficking must include Central America, which is 
        the corridor for 90 percent of the cocaine that transits from 
        South America to the United States.
            (2) It is in the interest of the United States to support a 
        long-term commitment to assisting the countries of Central 
        America to improve security by combating illicit narcotics 
        trafficking, investing in prevention programs, increasing 
        intelligence sharing, improving regional security coordination, 
        improving border and customs capabilities, professionalizing 
        police, justice, and other government officials, and funding 
        programs to reintegrate deportees from the United States.
            (3) The countries of Central America are committed to 
        combating illicit narcotics trafficking and its related 
        violence and crime, including gang violence, and the United 
        States must seize the opportunity to work in partnership with 
        Central America.

          Subtitle A--Law Enforcement and Security Assistance

SEC. 211. PURPOSES OF ASSISTANCE.

    The purposes of assistance authorized by this subtitle are to--
            (1) enhance the ability of governments of countries of 
        Central America to control illicit narcotics production, 
        trafficking, illicit drug trafficking organizations, and 
        organized crime;
            (2) help build the capacity of law enforcement agencies of 
        the countries of Central America to control illicit narcotics 
        production, trafficking, illicit drug trafficking 
        organizations, and organized crime;
            (3) strengthen the bilateral ties of the United States with 
        the countries of Central America by offering concrete 
        assistance in this area of great mutual concern;
            (4) strengthen respect for internationally recognized human 
        rights and the rule of law in efforts to stabilize the security 
        environment relating to illicit narcotics production and 
        trafficking and organized crime; and
            (5) support the judicial branch of governments of the 
        countries of Central America, as well as to support anti-
        corruption efforts in such countries.

SEC. 212. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.

    To carry out the purposes of section 211, the President is 
authorized to provide assistance for the countries of Central America 
to support the activities described in section 213.

SEC. 213. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.

    Activities that may be supported by assistance under section 212 
include the following:
            (1) Counternarcotics, countertrafficking, and related 
        security.--
                    (A) Assistance objectives.--To assist in the 
                following:
                            (i) Investigation and collection of 
                        intelligence against illicit narcotics 
                        trafficking.
                            (ii) Combating illegal trafficking in arms.
                            (iii) Prevention of bulk currency 
                        smuggling.
                            (iv) Collection of information on crime and 
                        establishment of a regional database.
                    (B) Assistance.--Activities under subparagraph (A) 
                may include--
                            (i) automated fingerprint identification 
                        systems (AFIS);
                            (ii) vetting sensitive investigative units 
                        to collaborate on counternarcotics at the 
                        federal, state, and local levels;
                            (iii) technical assistance to develop 
                        strong and effective financial crimes 
                        investigation units;
                            (iv) maritime security support, including 
                        refurbishing and procuring patrol boats;
                            (v) firearms interdiction training; and
                            (vi) illicit narcotics demand reduction 
                        programs.
            (2) Public security and law enforcement.--To assist in 
        building the capacity of the police in countries of Central 
        America, supporting efforts to combat transnational gangs, 
        investing in gang prevention and rehabilitation programs, and 
        programs for the reintegration of deportees, including 
        assistance such as--
                    (A) funding to continue the United States-Central 
                American Integration System (SICA) Dialogue;
                    (B) youth gang prevention activities, including 
                targeted education for at-risk youth, vocational 
                training and funding of community centers in areas with 
                high youth gang violence rates and other risk factors;
                    (C) programs to reintegrate deportees from the 
                United States back into the societies of their home 
                countries to avoid further criminal activity;
                    (D) transnational anti-gang initiatives;
                    (E) police professionalization, including--
                            (i) training regarding use of force;
                            (ii) human rights education and training;
                            (iii) training regarding evidence 
                        preservation and chain of custody; and
                            (iv) enhanced capacity to vet candidates;
                    (F) utilization of the International Law 
                Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in El Salvador consistent 
                with traditional respect for human rights and 
                professional police practices;
                    (G) police training programs of the Organization of 
                American States (OAS );
                    (H) police equipment, including communications 
                equipment; and
                    (I) anti-domestic violence education programs and 
                women's shelters.

SEC. 214. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Limitation.--No assistance may be provided under this subtitle 
to any unit of the armed forces of a country of Central America or any 
unit of the law enforcement agencies of a country of Central America if 
the Secretary of State determines that, consistent with section 620J of 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d), there is credible 
evidence that such unit has committed gross violations of human rights.
    (b) Exception.--The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply if 
the Secretary of State determines and reports to the appropriate 
congressional committees that the government of the relevant country of 
Central America is taking effective measures to bring the responsible 
members of the unit of the armed forces or law enforcement agencies, as 
the case may be, to justice.

SEC. 215. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--To carry out this subtitle, there are authorized 
to be appropriated to the President $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
$80,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are--
            (1) authorized to remain available until expended; and
            (2) in addition to funds otherwise available for such 
        purposes, including funds under chapters 2 and 8 of part I of 
        the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2166 and 2291 et 
        seq.).
    (c) Limitation.--Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) for any fiscal 
year, at least $15,000,000 should be made available to carry out 
section 213(2)(B).

   Subtitle B--Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen 
                         Civilian Institutions

SEC. 221. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.

    The President is authorized to provide assistance for the countries 
of Central America to support the activities described in section 222.

SEC. 222. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.

    Activities that may be supported by assistance under section 221 
include assistance in building the capacity, transparency, and trust in 
the justice system of the countries of Central America and reducing 
high impunity rates in the countries of Central America, including 
assistance such as--
            (1) improved police academies and entry level training on 
        crime investigations;
            (2) courts management and prosecutor capacity building;
            (3) witness and victim protection programs, including in 
        Guatemala in coordination with the United Nations International 
        Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG);
            (4) programs to enhance transparency in the procedures to 
        designate and remove personnel in the recipient country's 
        judicial system;
            (5) prosecutor and judge protection programs, including in 
        Guatemala and in coordination with the CICIG;
            (6) short-term assignment of United States Government 
        personnel to the CICIG to provide technical assistance for 
        criminal investigations, specifically but not limited to 
        investigations involving money laundering so long as this 
        assignment does not negatively impact United States domestic 
        operations;
            (7) regional juvenile justice reform;
            (8) prison management;
            (9) programs to rehabilitate gang members released from 
        prison, including job training; and
            (10) community policing, including human rights and use of 
        force training for community policing projects.

SEC. 223. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--To carry out this title, there are authorized to 
be appropriated to the President $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are--
            (1) authorized to remain available until expended; and
            (2) in addition to funds otherwise available for such 
        purposes, including funds available under chapters 2 and 8 of 
        part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2166 
        and 2291 et seq.).

                  TITLE III--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. CONDITIONS ON PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The President may not provide assistance under 
title I or II to a foreign country for a fiscal year until the end of a 
15-day period beginning on the date on which the President transmits to 
the appropriate congressional committees a determination that the 
requirements described in subsection (b) have been met with respect to 
the government of such foreign country for such fiscal year.
    (b) Required Determination.--The requirements referred to in 
subsection (a) are the following:
            (1) The provision of assistance will not adversely affect 
        the human rights situation in the foreign country.
            (2) Vetting procedures are in place to ensure that members 
        and units of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies of 
        the foreign country that may receive assistance under title I 
        or II have not been involved in human rights violations.
            (3) The civilian authority in the foreign country is 
        investigating and prosecuting any member of any government 
        agency or entity receiving assistance under title I or II who 
        has been credibly alleged to have committed human rights 
        violations on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (4) Equipment and material provided as support is being 
        used only by officials and employees of the government of the 
        foreign country who have been approved by such government to 
        perform counternarcotics activities, including on the basis of 
        the background investigations by such government.
            (5) The government of the foreign country has cooperated 
        with the Secretary of State to ensure that--
                    (A) the equipment and material provided as support 
                will be used only by the officials and employees 
                referred to in paragraph (4);
                    (B) none of the equipment or material will be 
                transferred (by sale, gift, or otherwise) to any person 
                or entity not authorized by the United States to 
                receive the equipment or material; and
                    (C) the equipment and material will, to the extent 
                possible, be used for the purposes intended by the 
                United States Government and will be utilized by those 
                agencies for which such assistance is intended.
            (6) The government of the foreign country has implemented, 
        in consultation with the Secretary of State, a system that will 
        provide an accounting and inventory of the equipment and 
        material provided as support.
            (7) The government of the foreign country will, along with 
        United States personnel, conduct periodic observation and 
        review of the use of the equipment and material provided as 
        support under terms and conditions similar to the terms and 
        conditions imposed with respect to such observation and review 
        under section 505(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
        (22 U.S.C. 2314(a)(3)).
            (8) To the extent the foreign country has received 
        equipment in the past, it has utilized the equipment properly 
        and in a manner that warrants additional provision of equipment 
        or assistance.

SEC. 302. LIMITATIONS ON PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) activities undertaken under titles I and II of this Act 
        should be performed wherever possible by official employees, 
        personnel, or officers of the federal, state, or local 
        government of the recipient foreign country; and
            (2) the United States should limit, to the maximum extent 
        possible, the number of United States civilians and foreign 
        nationals retained as contractors in a recipient country.
    (b) Limitations.--Except as provided in subsection (c)--
            (1) none of the funds made available to carry out title I 
        may be available for the employment of any United States 
        individual civilian retained as a contractor in Mexico or any 
        foreign national retained as a contractor if that employment 
        would cause the total number of individual civilian contractors 
        employed in Mexico in support of the Merida Initiative who are 
        funded by United States funds to exceed 50;
            (2) none of the funds made available to carry out title II 
        may be available for the employment of any United States 
        individual civilian retained as a contractor in a country of 
        Central America or any foreign national retained as a 
        contractor if that employment would cause the total number of 
        individual civilian contractors employed in all countries of 
        Central America in support of the Merida Initiative who are 
        funded by United States funds to exceed 100; and
            (3) none of the funds made available under this Act shall 
        be made available for budget support or cash payments.
    (c) Exception.--The limitations contained in subsection (b) shall 
not apply if the President determines that it is in the national 
interest of the United States that such limitations shall not apply and 
transmits to the appropriate congressional committees a notification 
thereof.

SEC. 303. LIMITATION ON MONITORING.

    Beginning on October 1, 2009, no surveillance-related equipment may 
be transferred under this Act to any entity of Mexico or a country of 
Central America unless the President determines that the recipient 
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. EXEMPTION FROM PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT 
              FORCES.

    Notwithstanding section 660 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2420; relating to the prohibition on assistance to foreign 
law enforcement forces), the President may provide assistance under 
title I or II if, at least 15 days before providing the assistance, the 
President notifies the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, 
in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming 
notifications pursuant to section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act 
(22 U.S.C. 2394-1), that (1) it is in the national interest to provide 
such assistance, and (2) the recipient country is making significant 
progress to eliminating any human rights violations.

SEC. 305. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER AUTHORITY.

    (a) Assistance Under Title I.--The authority to provide assistance 
under title I is in addition to any other authority to provide 
assistance for Mexico.
    (b) Assistance Under Title II.--The authority to provide assistance 
under title I is in addition to any other authority to provide 
assistance for the countries of Central America.

SEC. 306. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in title I or II shall be construed to alter, modify, or 
otherwise affect the provisions of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) unless otherwise specified in this Act.

           TITLE IV--SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

SEC. 401. REPORT ON REDUCTION OF DRUG DEMAND IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) supply-side drug reduction strategies when executed 
        alone are not an effective way to fight the phenomenon of 
        illegal narcotics;
            (2) the Government of Mexico has identified reduction of 
        United States drug demand as among the most important 
        contributions the United States can make to a joint strategy to 
        combat illicit narcotics trafficking; and
            (3) the United States pledged in the United States-Mexico 
        October 2007 Joint Statement on the Merida Initiative, to 
        ``intensify its efforts to address all aspects of drug 
        trafficking (including demand related portions)'' here in the 
        United States.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the measures taken to intensify 
United States efforts to address United States demand-related aspects 
of the drug-trafficking phenomenon in accordance with the Joint 
Statement on the Merida Initiative announced by the United States and 
Mexico on October 22, 2007.

SEC. 402. REDUCTION OF SOUTHBOUND FLOW OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) much of the increased violence in Mexico is perpetrated 
        using firearms and ammunition smuggled illegally from the 
        United States into Mexico;
            (2) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 
        (ATF) has told Congress of an ``iron river of guns'' with 
        thousands of weapons per week illegally crossing into Mexico 
        from the United States;
            (3) more than 90 percent of the guns confiscated yearly in 
        Mexico originate in the United States and approximately 40 
        percent of the total trafficked weapons are linked to drug 
        trafficking organizations;
            (4) along the 2,000 mile border from Brownsville, Texas, to 
        San Diego, California, there are 6,700 licensed gun sellers, 
        but only 100 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
        Explosives (ATF) special agents to investigate allegations of 
        weapons trafficking and only 35 inspectors to ensure compliance 
        with United States laws;
            (5) on January 16, 2008, ATF announced that it will add 25 
        special agents and 15 inspectors to their Project Gunrunner 
        along the Southwest Border. And, the ATF budget request for 
        fiscal year 2009 includes funding for another 12 inspectors; 
        and
            (6) an effective strategy to combat these illegal arms 
        flows is a critical part of a United States contribution to a 
        jointly executed anti-narcotics strategy with Mexico.
    (b) Project Gunrunner Initiative.--
            (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall, to the extent 
        amounts are made available to carry out this subsection 
        pursuant to paragraph (4), use such amounts for the Project 
        Gunrunner initiative (hereafter in this subsection referred to 
        as the ``initiative'') of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
        Firearms, and Explosives to expand the resources provided to 
        identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals involved in 
        the trafficking of firearms across the United States-Mexico 
        border.
            (2) Activities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Attorney General shall--
                    (A) assign additional agents of the Bureau of 
                Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the area 
                of the United States adjacent to the United States-
                Mexico border to support the expansion of the 
                initiative;
                    (B) establish not fewer than 1 initiative team in 
                each State along the United States-Mexico border; and
                    (C) coordinate with the heads of other relevant 
                federal law enforcement agencies and State and local 
                law enforcement agencies to address firearms 
                trafficking in a comprehensive manner.
            (3) Additional staff.--The Attorney General may hire 
        additional persons to be Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 
        and Explosives agents for, and may use such other resources as 
        may be necessary to adequately support, the initiative.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Attorney General $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
        through 2010.
    (c) Enhanced International Cooperation.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Attorney General, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, 
        is authorized and encouraged, as appropriate, to--
                    (A) assign agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, 
                Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the United States 
                mission in Mexico, specifically in areas adjacent to 
                the United States-Mexico border, to work with Mexican 
                law enforcement agencies in conducting investigations 
                relating to firearms trafficking and other criminal 
                enterprises;
                    (B) provide the equipment and technological 
                resources necessary to support investigations and to 
                trace firearms recovered in Mexico; and
                    (C) support the training of vetted Mexican law 
                enforcement officers in serial number restoration 
                techniques and canine explosive detection.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Attorney General $9,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
        through 2010.

SEC. 403. REDUCTION OF SOUTHBOUND FLOW OF ILLEGAL PRECURSOR CHEMICALS 
              AND BULK-CASH TRANSFERS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) a significant quantity of precursor chemicals used in 
        the production of illegal narcotics flows south from the United 
        States to Mexico;
            (2) the Government of Mexico has identified reduction of 
        southbound flows from the United States of precursor chemicals 
        and bulk-cash transfers as a critical component of its anti-
        narcotics strategy; and
            (3) an effective strategy to combat these illegal flows is 
        a critical part of a United States contribution to a jointly 
        executed anti-narcotics strategy with Mexico.

SEC. 404. REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the measures taken to combat the southbound flow 
of illegal precursor chemicals and bulk cash transfers into Mexico.

                   TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 501. COORDINATOR OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES TO 
              IMPLEMENT THE MERIDA INITIATIVE.

    (a) Declaration of Policy.--Congress declares that the Merida 
Initiative is a Department of State-led initiative which combines 
programs of numerous United States Government departments and agencies 
and therefore requires a single individual to coordinate and track all 
Merida-related efforts government-wide to help avoid duplication and 
facilitate accountability to Congress.
    (b) Designation of High-Level Coordinator.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall designate, within the 
        Department of State, a Coordinator of United States Government 
        Activities to Implement the Merida Initiative (hereafter in 
        this section referred to as the ``Coordinator'') who shall be 
        responsible for--
                    (A) designing an overall strategy to advance the 
                purposes of this Act;
                    (B) ensuring program and policy coordination among 
                agencies of the United States Government in carrying 
                out the policies in Mexico and Central America set 
                forth in this Act;
                    (C) ensuring that efforts of the United States 
                Government under this Act in Mexico and Central America 
                are in full consonance with the efforts of the 
                Government of Mexico and the governments of Central 
                America in implementing the Merida Initiative;
                    (D) tracking all United States Government 
                assistance which fulfills the goals of the Merida 
                Initiative or is closely related to the goals of the 
                Merida Initiative, including information required under 
                section 620J of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
                U.S.C. 2378d) with respect to Mexico and the countries 
                of Central America;
                    (E) coordinating among agencies of the United 
                States Government on all United States assistance to 
                Mexico and the countries of Central America, including 
                assistance from other relevant government agencies, 
                which fulfills the goals of the Merida Initiative to 
                avoid duplication or conflict among programs; and
                    (F) consulting with the Attorney General with 
                respect to the activities of Federal, State, and local 
                law enforcement authorities in the United States 
                related to the goals of the Merida Initiative, 
                particularly along the United States-Mexico border.
            (2) Rank and status of the coordinator.--The Coordinator 
        shall have the rank and status of ambassador.

SEC. 502. METRICS AND OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) to successfully support building the capacity of 
        recipient countries' civilian security institutions, enhance 
        the rule of law in recipient countries, and ensure the 
        protection of human rights, the President should establish 
        metrics and oversight mechanisms to track the effectiveness of 
        activities undertaken pursuant to this Act;
            (2) long-term solutions to Mexico and Central America's 
        security problems depend on strengthening and holding 
        accountable civilian institutions;
            (3) it is difficult to assess the impact of United States 
        assistance towards these goals absent specific oversight and 
        monitoring mechanisms; and
            (4) the President, in developing metrics, should consult 
        with Congress as well as the Government of Mexico and the 
        Central American Integration System (SICA).
    (b) Requirement.--The President shall develop metrics to identify, 
track, and manage the progress of activities authorized pursuant to 
this Act and use these metrics to determine the allocation of resources 
for such activities.
    (c) Initial Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report that specifies 
        metrics of achievement for each activity to be undertaken under 
        this Act.
            (2) Contents of report.--The report shall be divided into 
        two sections, the first addressing those activities undertaken 
        pursuant to subtitle A of title I and subtitle A of title II, 
        and the second addressing those activities undertaken pursuant 
        to subtitle B of title I and subtitle B of title II. Metrics 
        may include the following:
                    (A) Indicators on long-term effectiveness of the 
                equipment and training provided to Mexican and Central 
                American security institutions.
                    (B) Statistics of counter narcotics-related 
                arrests.
                    (C) Number of interdictions of drug shipments.
                    (D) Specific progress on police reform.
                    (E) Counternarcotics-related arrests.
                    (F) Quantification of reduction of supply of 
                illicit narcotics into the United States.
                    (G) Cross-utilization, if any, of equipment among 
                the armed forces and law enforcement entities.
                    (H) Increased school attendance rates.
                    (I) Attendance in primary prevention programs
                    (J) The level of cooperation among United States, 
                Mexican, and Central American law enforcement agencies.

SEC. 503. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--The President shall transmit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report concerning the programs and 
activities carried out under this Act during the preceding fiscal year. 
The first report shall be transmitted not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and subsequent reports shall be 
transmitted not later than October 31 of each year thereafter.
    (b) Matters to Be Included.--The report required under subsection 
(a) shall include the following:
            (1) Metrics.--A general description of the progress in 
        stabilizing the security situation in each recipient country as 
        well as combating trafficking and building its capacity based 
        on the metrics developed under section 502.
            (2) Coordination.--Efforts of the United States Government 
        to coordinate its activities pursuant to section 501, 
        including--
                    (A) a description of all counternarcotics and 
                organized crime assistance provided to recipient 
                countries in the previous fiscal year;
                    (B) an assessment of how such assistance was 
                coordinated; and
                    (C) recommendations for improving coordination.
            (3) Transfer of equipment.--A description of the transfer 
        of equipment, including--
                    (A) a description of the progress of each recipient 
                country toward the transfer of equipment, if any, from 
                its armed forces to law enforcement agencies;
                    (B) a list of organizations that have used the air 
                assets provided to the government of each recipient 
                country, and, to the extent possible, a detailed 
                description of those agencies that have utilized the 
                air assets, including a breakdown of the percentage of 
                use by each agency; and
                    (C) a description of training of law enforcement 
                agencies to operate equipment, including air assets.
            (4) Human rights.--Consistent with sections 116(d) and 
        502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
        2151n(d) and 2304(b)) and section 504 of the Trade Act of 1974 
        (19 U.S.C. 2464), an assessment of the human rights impact of 
        the equipment and training provided under this Act, including--
                    (A) a list of accusations of serious human rights 
                abuses committed by the armed forces and law 
                enforcement agencies of recipient countries from the 
                date of enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) a description of efforts by the government of 
                recipient countries to investigate and prosecute 
                allegations of abuses of human rights committed by any 
                agency of the recipient countries.
            (5) Effectiveness of equipment.--An assessment on the long-
        term effectiveness of the equipment and maintenance packages 
        and training provided to each recipient country's security 
        institutions.
            (6) Mexico public security strategy.--A description of 
        Mexico's development of a public security strategy, including--
                    (A) an update on the effectiveness of the Mexican 
                federal Registry of Police Personnel to vet police 
                recruiting at the National, state, and municipal levels 
                to prevent rehiring from one force to the next after 
                dismissal for corruption and other reasons; and
                    (B) an assessment of how the Merida Initiative 
                complements and supports the Mexican Government's own 
                public security strategy.
            (7) Flow of illegal arms.--A description of efforts to 
        reduce the southbound flow of illegal arms.
            (8) Use of contractors.--A detailed description of 
        contracts awarded to private companies to carry out provisions 
        of this Act, including--
                    (A) a description of the number of United States 
                and foreign national civilian contractors awarded 
                contracts;
                    (B) a list of the total dollar value of the 
                contracts; and
                    (C) the purposes of the contracts.
            (9) Central american regional security plan.--A description 
        of implementation by the countries of Central America of the 
        Central American Regional Security Plan, including an 
        assessment of how the Merida Initiative complements and 
        supports the Central American Regional Security Plan.
            (10) Phase out of law enforcement activities.--A 
        description of the progress of phasing out law enforcement 
        activities of the armed forces of each recipient country.
            (11) Displacement and diversion of drug trafficking 
        patterns.--A description of any displacement effect and 
        diversion of drug trafficking patterns from Mexico and the 
        countries of Central America to other routes, including through 
        potentially vulnerable Caribbean countries.
            (12) Impact on border violence and security.--A description 
        of the impact that activities authorized under this Act have 
        had on violence against United States and Mexican border 
        personnel and the extent to which these activities have 
        increased the protection and security of the United States-
        Mexico border.

SEC. 504. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States Government requires an effective 
        public diplomacy strategy to explain the purposes of the Merida 
        Initiative; and
            (2) to the extent practicable, the Secretary of State, in 
        coordination with other relevant heads of agencies, shall 
        design and implement a public diplomacy campaign regionally 
        regarding the Merida Initiative.

SEC. 505. SUNSET.

    The authority of this Act shall expire after September 30, 2010.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 10, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.