[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 97 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MERIDA INITIATIVE TO COMBAT ILLICIT NARCOTICS AND REDUCE ORGANIZED 
                    CRIME AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2008

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss HR 
6028, ``The Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce 
Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008.'' This bill would fund, 
train and equip Mexican security forces that would help prevent the 
trafficking of guns and drugs over the U.S.-Mexico border. I will vote 
for this bill, but I have some concerns about the Merida Initiative.
  By supporting the Merida Initiative, the United States demonstrates 
its commitment to prevent the illegal importation of guns and drugs by 
partnering with Mexican and Central American governments. This 
initiative benefits the larger battle against organized crime, prevents 
drugs from hitting American cities and counties, and stymies gang 
violence from spilling over the border.
  I believe that Congress must ensure our money is being used to 
prevent illegal materials from coming over the border. We have a 
responsibility to protect American citizens from drugs and violence. 
However, we also have a responsibility to make sure the money we 
appropriate for foreign governments is not directly or indirectly 
leading to human rights violations. Human rights abuses cannot and 
should not be perpetrated by personnel trained using American dollars. 
I applaud Chairman Berman and the Foreign Affairs Committee for placing 
restrictions on the uses of this money and firmly support 
investigations into reports of human right abuses in countries 
receiving Merida Initiative funding.
  Human rights violations have been reported in Mexico but are 
insufficiently investigated. A constituent of mine, Brad Will, a 
journalist for the Downtown Express, was murdered while on assignment 
in Mexico. The suspected gunmen were local officials. Tragically, his 
family is still waiting for justice. While we must protect our own 
citizens from guns and drugs, we must exercise the necessary oversight 
to ensure that this funding is used appropriately.

                          ____________________