[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1238-H1240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR ENRIQUE ``KIKI'' CAMARENA
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1115) expressing appreciation for the profound
dedication and public service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on the 25th
anniversary of his death.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1115
Whereas in March 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena made the
ultimate sacrifice in the fight against illicit drugs;
Whereas Special Agent Camarena, an 11-year veteran special
agent of the DEA, was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered in
the line of duty;
Whereas Special Agent Camarena joined the DEA in June 1974
as an agent with the Calexico, California, District Office;
Whereas Special Agent Camarena was assigned to the Fresno
District Office in September 1977, and transferred to the
Guadalajara Resident Office in July 1981;
Whereas, on February 7, 1985, when leaving the Guadalajara
Resident Office to join his wife Geneva for lunch, Special
Agent Camarena was surrounded by 5 armed men, forced into a
vehicle and taken away;
Whereas the body of Special Agent Camarena was discovered
on March 5, 1985, on a ranch approximately 60 miles southeast
of Guadalajara, Mexico;
Whereas to date, 22 individuals have been indicted in Los
Angeles, California, for their roles in the Camarena murder,
including former high ranking Mexican Government officials,
cartel drug lords, lieutenants, and soldiers;
Whereas of the 22 individuals indicted in Los Angeles, 8
have been convicted and are imprisoned in the United States,
6 have been incarcerated in Mexico and considered fugitives
as a result of outstanding warrants in the United States, 4
are believed deceased, 1 was acquitted at trial, and 3 remain
fugitives believed to be residing in Mexico;
Whereas an additional 25 individuals were arrested,
convicted, and imprisoned in Mexico for their involvement in
the Camarena murder;
Whereas the men and women of the DEA will continue to seek
justice for the murder of Special Agent Camarena;
Whereas fugitives Guillermo Chavez-Sanchez and Ricardo
Chavez-Sanchez are still wanted as hostile material witnesses
in Los Angeles, California;
Whereas during his 11-year career with the DEA, Special
Agent Camarena received 2 Sustained Superior Performance
Awards, a Special Achievement Award and, posthumously, the
Administrator's Award of Honor, the highest award granted by
DEA;
Whereas prior to joining the DEA, Special Agent Camarena
served 2 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as serving
as a fireman in Calexico, a police investigator, and a
narcotics investigator for the Imperial County Sheriff
Coroner;
Whereas Red Ribbon Week, nationally recognized since 1988
and now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the
Nation, reaching millions of young people each year and
celebrated annually from October 23 to 31, was established to
help preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the
cause for which he gave his life, the fight against drug
crime and addiction; and
Whereas Special Agent Camarena will be remembered as an
honorable public servant, his sacrifice should also be a
reminder every October during Red Ribbon Week of the dangers
associated with drug use and trafficking: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses appreciation for the profound dedication and
public service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on the 25th
anniversary of his death;
(2) offers its deepest sympathy and appreciation to his
wife, Geneva, his three children, Enrique, Daniel, and Erik,
and to the entire family, friends, and former colleagues of
the Drug Enforcement Administration;
(3) encourages communities and organizations throughout the
United States to commemorate the sacrifice of Special Agent
Camarena through the promotion of drug-free communities and
participation in drug prevention activities to support
healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyles; and
(4) directs the Clerk of the House to transmit a copy of
this resolution to the family of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1115 expresses appreciation for the
profound dedication and public service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on
the 25th anniversary of his passing.
On February 7, 1985, Special Agent Enrique Camarena, known to his
friends as Kiki, left the American consulate in Guadalajara to meet his
wife, Mika, for lunch. As Kiki walked to his truck, he was approached
by five men who kidnapped him and sped away. He was found dead on March
5, 1985, after being tortured and brutally beaten by his captors. Kiki
was 37 years of age--survived by his wife and three children, Enrique,
Daniel, and Erik.
During his 11 years with the DEA, Kiki received two Sustained
Superior Performance Awards and a Special Achievement Award as well. He
also received posthumously the Administrator's Award of Honor, the
highest award granted by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Mr. Camarena was born on July 26, 1947, in Mexicali, Mexico. He
graduated from Calexico High School in Calexico, California, in 1966.
In 1968, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and after serving 2 years, he
joined the Calexico Police Department as a criminal investigator in
1970.
In May 1973, he started working as a narcotics investigator with the
El Centro Police Department. He stayed there until 1974, when he joined
the DEA.
His first assignment as a special agent with DEA was in Calexico,
California. In 1977, he was reassigned to the Fresno district office in
northern California. After working in the Fresno office, he was later
assigned to the Guadalajara, Mexico, DEA office for 4\1/2\ years and
worked undercover on the trail of the country's biggest marijuana and
cocaine traffickers. Before being kidnapped, Kiki was extremely close
to unlocking a multibillion-dollar drug pipeline.
Officer Camarena gave his life in the fight against drug traffickers,
and after his death, many people wanted to do something to remember the
ultimate sacrifice he made. Soon after his death, people everywhere
started wearing red ribbons to symbolize their commitment to help
reduce the demand for drugs in their communities. The act of wearing
red ribbons took on national significance and grew into what is now
known as the Red Ribbon Campaign. During Red Ribbon Week, Kiki is
remembered as a man who wanted to make a difference in the war on
drugs, and his legacy still lives on.
In honor of Kiki Camarena's legacy and in recognition of the 25th
anniversary of his death, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
H. Res. 1115.
I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H1239]]
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise in support of H.
Res. 1115, honoring the legacy of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on the 25th
anniversary of his murder.
Words are not sufficient to express the debt that our country owes to
Special Agent Camarena and to his family. His life of selfless service,
courage of conviction, and dedication to protecting the American people
will be remembered in our hearts and minds forever.
Twenty-five years ago, Agent Camarena gave his life in the line of
duty after he was abducted. He was tortured and eventually was
murdered. Agent Camarena was working undercover as a DEA special agent
gaining valuable intelligence and evidence against Mexican drug cartels
when he was kidnapped in broad daylight on a street in Guadalajara,
Mexico. It is believed that he was tortured for around 2 days, and
eventually he was bludgeoned to death.
We honor his life, we mourn his death, and we renew our commitment to
ensure that his legacy is never forgotten.
When asked why he wanted to be a DEA agent, Special Agent Camarena
replied, ``Even if I am only one person, I can make a difference.''
Thousands of individuals across our Nation can attest to the difference
he has made in their lives.
Every day and every night, law enforcement officers across this
Nation go to work aware of the dangers they face. These brave men and
brave women put their lives at risk so the rest of us can sleep better
at night and live safer lives. As we go about our daily lives, as we
sleep in the safety of our homes, these individuals fight against the
violence that threatens our neighborhoods, our communities, and our
loved ones. And much of that violence is drug related.
I stand before the House today with heartfelt gratitude for every law
enforcement officer who serves the communities throughout this country,
and especially for those who have given their lives in the line of duty
for the rest of us.
As we take a moment to pause and reflect on the heroic life and
tragic death of this individual, the drug cartels continue. They
continue to wage war on our borders and threaten the safety of so many
people, and they do so all in the name of money. Yet they will soon
come to learn that our pursuit of justice will not waiver and it will
not weaken just because they continue their criminal enterprises north
and south of our borders.
To the family of Special Agent Camarena, we share in their grief and
we will ensure that his legacy lives on. We will relentlessly fight
against the drug cartels and the border violence that they have caused.
We want to thank this family for sharing with our country a man who
truly is an American hero.
To the individuals who continue to pursue those who abducted and
tortured and murdered Special Agent Camarena, we thank them, we support
them, and we have committed to those individuals that we will not rest
until the perpetrators are brought to justice and tried for their evil
deeds.
To our Nation's law enforcement officers, we thank them for risking
their lives each day to protect our lives and the lives of our loved
ones. Their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families shall
always be remembered. Across our Nation, there are countless stories of
men and women who have given their time, their resources, and their
lives to protect and defend America.
Although we each have only one life to live, Special Agent Kiki
Camarena has shown us the difference that one individual can make.
Although we remember Special Agent Camarena's tragic death today, I am
encouraged by his life and the lives of so many who have dedicated
themselves to public service. Without the sacrifices of these brave men
and women, America would not be what we are today. I urge my colleagues
to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Johnson) will control the time.
There was no objection.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from California (Mr. Hunter), the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas, a great
prosecutor and judge in his own right.
Mr. Speaker, we are all familiar with the dangerous duties undertaken
by the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Oftentimes, their accomplishments go unnoticed, but these agents
continue making significant contributions to the seemingly unending
effort to protect our communities from drug crime and addiction.
This is a responsibility that DEA agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena
took seriously over the course of his career in law enforcement. It was
25 years ago this March that agent Camarena's body was discovered after
he was kidnapped by armed men in front of the U.S. consulate in
Guadalajara, Mexico. He had been severely tortured by his captors. More
than two dozen people, including Mexican Government officials, cartel
leaders, and associates were convicted for Agent Camarena's murder.
Still, his memory has not been forgotten.
The circumstances surrounding his death are a vivid reminder of the
violence and danger attributable to illegal drugs, whether it is
directly along our borders, in our neighborhoods, or within the homes
of families facing the struggles of addiction.
Today, Agent Camarena is perhaps the best-known hero of the war on
drugs, and his story continues to inspire millions of Americans to lead
drug-free lives. In fact, shortly after his death, Camarena Clubs were
launched throughout southern California. Hundreds of club members wore
red ribbons and pledged to lead drug-free lives in honor of Agent
Camarena and others who gave their lives for the same purpose. In 1985,
club members presented a proclamation to First Lady Nancy Reagan which
brought the club national recognition, and ultimately prompted
thousands of schools, communities, and States to recognize Red Ribbon
Week, now celebrated during the last week of October.
{time} 1200
So on this anniversary of Agent Camarena's death, let us take time to
honor the contribution and profound dedication and public service of
Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on the 25th anniversary of his death.
I would like to offer my deepest sympathy and appreciation to his
wife, Geneva, and his three children--Enrique, who is a prosecutor,
Daniel and Erik--and the entire family, friends, and former colleagues
at the Drug Enforcement Administration.
It is important that we focus on securing and enforcing our southern
border so that these past sacrifices and future endeavors by those in
the DEA are not in vain. Mr. Speaker, we in San Diego are honored to be
home to this legacy of ``Kiki'' Camarena and his family.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the special agents that work in the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the DEA, are special agents indeed. Many times they
work alone, they work deep undercover, they work not only in the United
States, but in foreign countries, and they work for the sole purpose of
trying to capture those outlaws who are in the drug business, who, in
the name of money, try to sell their wares and profit on that illegal
enterprise. They are an international crime cartel syndicate. Our DEA
agents do a wonderful job. We sometimes forget the work that they do.
This is just one of many who have worked and dedicated their lives to
helping protect the rest of us.
As my friend from California (Mr. Hunter) has pointed out, much of
this violence occurs on our borders because the drug cartels operate on
international borders, on our border with Mexico especially. Because
the drug cartels, in the name of money, are very violent, they are well
armed, they are well financed, and they will do anything in their
relentless effort to bring drugs into the United States.
We need to be aware that they have committed a war against the United
States and all people who oppose their
[[Page H1240]]
activities. And so it is quite appropriate that today we honor and
commemorate the life of one of those special agents who gave his life
trying to protect us from the drug cartels.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud original cosponsor of H.
Res. 1115.
As my colleagues have explained, this resolution recognizes the life
and public service of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special
Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena.
On February 7, 1985, Special Agent Camarena was on his way to meet
his wife for lunch when he was kidnapped outside the U.S. Consulate in
Guadalajara, Mexico by five armed men.
Almost a month later, his body was discovered on a ranch nearly 50
miles away, brutally murdered by the same kind of violent drug
traffickers he had dedicated his life to fighting.
This month marks 25 years since that fateful day.
As an 11-year veteran of the DEA, Special Agent Camarena received two
Sustained Superior Performance Awards, a Special Achievement Award and,
posthumously, the Administrator's Award of Honor, the highest award
granted by DEA.
Prior to joining the DEA, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, as a
fireman, a police investigator, and a narcotics investigator.
Special Agent Camarena was deeply committed to public service
throughout his life.
In honor of his memory, each October, thousands of schools,
communities, and state and local drug abuse prevention organizations
celebrate Red Ribbon Week.
Further, the anniversary of Special Agent Camarena's death reminds us
of the importance of continuing the close cooperation between the
United States and Mexico in fighting the narcotraffickers.
The Merida Initiative, a partnership between the Government of Mexico
and the United States, has been successful in presenting new
opportunities for expert collaboration on these fronts.
Through operations such as Operation Firewall and Operation Panama
Express, the DEA and Mexican law enforcement authorities are
dismantling drug cartels and seizing tons of illegal drugs destined for
America's streets.
I am sure that Special Agent Camarena would have been pleased to see
how far we have come.
Again, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important
measure in honor of Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena and his
dedication to public service.
My most sincere thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Geneva, his
sons Enrique, Daniel, and Erik, and his entire family.
I thank Congressman Hunter for introducing this important measure.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of House Resolution 1115, which honors the profound dedication and
public service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on the 25th anniversary of
his untimely death.
Mr. Camarena led an exemplary life of service to his community and
his nation. As a member of the Marine Corps, fire fighter, police
officer, and DEA special agent, he demonstrated an extreme passion for
fighting crime and eliminating drugs to ensure the safety and well-
being of our communities. He led a commendable 11-year career at the
Drug Enforcement Administration earning him the distinguished
Administrator's Award of Honor.
In February 1985, Mr. Camarena lost his life in the line of duty. I
had the opportunity to attend a memorial for Mr. Camarena and witness
the impact his sacrifice made and hear from some of the many lives he
touched. I am glad that twenty-five years after this tragedy, his
passion and spirit still live on. His commitment to fighting drugs
inspired millions of people around the world to live drug-free lives.
We must continue to honor this legacy by promoting drug-free
communities and supporting healthy drug-free lifestyles.
Again, I would like to express my appreciation for the outstanding
service Mr. Camarena provided for this nation and offer my support and
deepest condolences to his wife, children, and to the entire family,
friends, and former colleagues at the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mr. POE of Texas. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Salazar). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1115.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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