I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 495 

To authorize additional resources to identify and eliminate illicit sources 

of firearms smuggled into Mexico for use by violent drug trafficking 

organizations, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 14, 2009 

Mr. RODRIGUEZ (for himself, Mr. TEAGUE, Mr. ENGEL, and Mr. REYES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 

Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To authorize additional resources to identify and eliminate 

illicit sources of firearms smuggled into Mexico for use 

by violent drug trafficking organizations, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Southwest Border Vio5 lence Reduction Act of 2009’’. 


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•HR 495 IH

1 SEC. 2. PROJECT GUNRUNNER. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall dedi3 cate and expand the resources provided for the Project 

4 Gunrunner initiative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 

5 Firearms, and Explosives to identify, investigate, and 

6 prosecute individuals involved in the trafficking of fire7 arms across the international border between the United 

8 States and Mexico. 

9 (b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this section, the At10 torney General shall— 

11 (1) assign additional agents of the Bureau of 

12 Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the 

13 area of the United States adjacent to the inter14 national border between the United States and Mex15 ico to support the expansion of Project Gunrunner 

16 teams; 

17 (2) establish not fewer than 1 Project Gun18 runner team in each State along the international 

19 border between the United States and Mexico; and 

20 (3) coordinate with the heads of other relevant 

21 Federal law enforcement agencies and State and 

22 local law enforcement agencies to address firearms 

23 trafficking in a comprehensive manner. 

24 (c) ADDITIONAL STAFF.—The Attorney General may 

25 hire Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and ExploVerDate Nov 24 2008 02:46 Jan 16, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H495.IH H495

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•HR 495 IH

1 sives agents for, and otherwise expend additional resources 

2 needed to adequately support, Project Gunrunner. 

3 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

4 are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each 

5 of fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to carry out this section. 

6 SEC. 3. ENHANCED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General, in coopera8 tion with the Secretary of State, shall— 

9 (1) assign agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, To10 bacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the United 

11 States mission in Mexico, to work with Mexican law 

12 enforcement agencies in conducting investigations 

13 relating to firearms trafficking and other criminal 

14 enterprises; 

15 (2) provide the equipment and technological re16 sources necessary to support investigations and to 

17 trace firearms recovered in Mexico; and 

18 (3) support the training of Mexican law en19 forcement officers in serial number restoration tech20 niques, canine explosive detection, and 

21 antitrafficking tactics. 

22 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

23 are authorized to be appropriated $9,500,000 for each of 

24 fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to carry out this section. 

Æ 


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