[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 273 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 273

Expressing the sense of Congress that the escalating level of violence 
on the United States-Mexico border is a serious threat to the national 
                     security of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2010

Mr. Poe of Texas (for himself and Ms. Giffords) submitted the following 
  concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the escalating level of violence 
on the United States-Mexico border is a serious threat to the national 
                     security of the United States.

Whereas the violence on the United States-Mexico border has been steadily 
        increasing over the past two years to the point that it now represents a 
        significant threat to the national security of the United States;
Whereas United States intelligence and law enforcement officials have been 
        warning that the dramatic rise in violence along the southwestern border 
        could eventually target United States citizens and spread into the 
        United States;
Whereas in 2009, 79 United States citizens were killed in Mexico, up from 35 in 
        2007;
Whereas in Ciudad Juarez alone, 23 United States citizens were killed up from 
        just two in 2007;
Whereas since January 2008, nearly 5,000 homicides have been committed in Ciudad 
        Juarez, Mexico, making it one of the most violent cities in the world;
Whereas since the beginning of President Calderon's declared war against the 
        Mexican cartels in 2006, the cartels have killed over 17,000 people;
Whereas the Mexican cartels have been rapidly expanding cocaine shipments into 
        mainland Europe using Africa as a smuggling route, thus exposing the 
        cartels to Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations operating in 
        Africa;
Whereas the superintendent of the Tornillo school district outside El Paso, 
        estimates that about 10 percent of his 300 students have lost a close 
        family member in Mexico's drug war;
Whereas, on March 13, 2010, Lesley Enriquez, a United States Consulate employee, 
        and her husband, Arthur Redelf, a 10-year veteran of the El Paso Police 
        Department, were killed when Mexican drug cartel members fired a number 
        of rounds at the vehicle they were traveling in as they left a birthday 
        party;
Whereas, on March 13, 2010, Jorge Alberto Salcido, husband of a United States 
        Consulate employee, was killed when cartel members shot at his car at a 
        separate location, the attack also wounded his two young children;
Whereas, on March 14, 2010, the Department of State issued a travel warning for 
        northern Mexico that stated cartels were using automatic weapons and 
        grenades and that ``large firefights'' were taking place in towns and 
        cities across Mexico;
Whereas, on March 27, 2010, Robert Krentz, a longtime Douglas, Arizona, rancher 
        was found shot dead on his 34,000-acre ranch not far from the Mexican 
        border;
Whereas, on April 30, 2010, Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy Louie Puroll was shot 
        while on patrol in a remote stretch of desert south of Phoenix, Arizona, 
        known as a corridor used by drug smugglers;
Whereas it is estimated that the drug wars have cost the city of El Paso, Texas, 
        over $1,400,000 in security and health care;
Whereas assaults against Border Patrol agents increased from 773 incidents in 
        2005 to 1,073 incidents in 2009;
Whereas the El Paso Sector Border Intelligence Center has recently issued a 
        warning to law enforcement officers in west Texas due to the fear of 
        retaliatory killings by a Mexican gang; and
Whereas the El Paso Sector Border Intelligence Center has suggested agents 
        change their routes and wear body armor while on duty: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the escalating level of violence on the United States-
        Mexico border is a serious threat to the national security of 
        the United States;
            (2) the Administration, as well as State and local 
        authorities, should take appropriate steps to deal with this 
        growing threat; and
            (3) the Administration should deploy the National Guard to 
        the United States-Mexico border as has been requested by a 
        number of border State Governors and Members of Congress; and
            (4) troops that are deployed should be given very clear 
        rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend 
        themselves if attacked.
                                 <all>