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SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS; DECLARATION OF
POLICY.
(a) GENERAL FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the
following:
(1) International drug traffickers, aided by in-
dividuals in the United States and across the West-
ern Hemisphere who sell and distribute deadly
drugs, pose the largest threat to Americans since the
end of the Cold War.
(2) The United States is faced with a supply of
drugs that is cheaper, more potent, and more avail-
able than at any time in our history.
(3) The drug cartels are becoming wealthier,
bolder, and closer to the United States, and their
corruption of officials is beginning to reach inside
the United States.
(4)(A) No single action is a sufficient response
to the threat posed to our society by illegal drugs.
(B) The goal of the United States is to save our
children by eliminating the illegal drug trade.
(C) The United States Government must set
forth a comprehensive strategy that dedicates the re-
sources necessary to decisively win the war on drugs.
(b) THREAT DRUGS POSE TO OUR CHILDREN.—The
Congress further finds the following:
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(1)(A) Casual teenage drug use trends have
suffered a marked reversal over the past 5 years.
Casual teenage drug use has dramatically increased
for virtually every childhood age group and for vir-
tually every illicit drug, including heroin, crack, co-
caine hydrochloride, lysergic acid diethylamide
(LSD), non-LSD hallucinogens, methamphetamine,
inhalants, stimulants, and marijuana (often laced
with phencyclidine (PCP) and cocaine).
(B) Specifically, illicit drug use among 8th and
10th graders has doubled in the last 5 years. 8 per-
cent of 6th graders, 23 percent of 7th graders, and
33 percent of 8th graders have tried marijuana.
Since 1993, the number of 8th graders using mari-
juana has increased 146 percent and overall teen
drug use is up 50 percent.
(2) Rising casual teenage drug use is closely
correlated with rising juvenile violent crime, as re-
ported by the Department of Justice.
(3) If rising teenage drug use and the close cor-
relation with violent juvenile crime continue to rise
on their current path, the United States will experi-
ence a doubling of violent crime by 2010, according
to the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
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(4) The nature of casual teenage drug use is
changing, such that annual or infrequent teenage ex-
perimentation with illegal drugs is being replaced by
regular, monthly, or addictive teenage drug use.
(5) Nationwide, drug-related emergencies are at
an all-time high, having risen for 5 straight years by
increments of between 10 and 30 percentage points
per year for each drug measured.
(6) The nationwide street price for most illicit
drugs is lower than at any time in recent years, and
the potency of those same drugs, particularly heroin,
crack and marijuana, is higher.
(c) THE FAILED ANTIDRUG POLICY.—The Congress
further finds the following:
(1) United States Government strategy has dra-
matically shifted precious antidrug resources away
from United States priorities set in the 1980’s—
away from the prior emphasis on drug prevention
for children, drug interdiction, and international
source country programs.
(2) United States Government strategy has
been weak in responding to statutory deadlines, has
been characterized by an absence of statutorily man-
dated measurable goals, lack of effective coordina-
tion 
and 
program 
accountability, 
and 
often
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untargeted and insufficient funding, from the small-
est agencies involved in the drug war up to and in-
cluding the White House Drug Policy Office.
(3) It has been reported that United States
Government policy reduced the national security pri-
ority placed on international drug trafficking from
the top tier (number 3) to the bottom tier (number
29).
(4) United States Government policy has em-
phasized additional funding for unproven drug treat-
ment techniques at the expense of accountable drug
prevention programs that effectively teach a right-
wrong distinction.
(5) The United States Government has failed to
assess the outcomes of $3,000,000,000 spent per
year in drug rehabilitation and has failed to shift re-
sources from ineffective programs to programs that
save lives.
(6) United States Government policy has not
offered sufficient flexibility to local and State law
enforcement agencies to combat drug abuse through
measures such as additional block grant funding.
(7) United States Government strategy has not
properly emphasized the important, increased role
that can legitimately be played by the National
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Guard, the United States military, and United
States intelligence agencies in confronting the rising
drug trafficking threat.
(8) United States Government strategy under-
emphasizes community and parental actions and the
need to engage children at an early age in preven-
tion activities.
(9) For the past four years, United States Gov-
ernment strategy has failed to use the media to com-
municate a consistent, intense antidrug message to
young people.
(d) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—The Congress de-
clares that—
(1) a thorough review of the United States
counternarcotics strategy is urgently needed; and
(2) the establishment of a commission on inter-
national narcotics control in accordance with section
6 will assist in such review.
SEC. 2. DISAPPROVAL OF DETERMINATION OF PRESIDENT
REGARDING MEXICO.
(a) In General.—Pursuant to subsection (d) of sec-
tion 490 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2291j), effective 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this joint resolution Congress disapproves the deter-
mination of the President with respect to Mexico for fiscal
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year 1997 that is contained in the certification (transmit-
tal no. 97–18) submitted to Congress by the President
under subsection (b) of that section on February 28, 1997.
(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not take effect
if, within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this
joint resolution, the President determines and reports in
writing to the Congress that the President has obtained
reliable assurances of substantial progress toward—
(1) obtaining authorization from the Govern-
ment of Mexico to allow additional agents of the
Drug Enforcement Administration, or other United
States law enforcement agents (as of February 28,
1997), for critical narcotics control operations in
Mexico, including authorization of appropriate privi-
leges and immunities for such agents;
(2) obtaining authorization from the Govern-
ment of Mexico to allow United States law enforce-
ment agents in Mexico to carry firearms for self-de-
fense in areas where required to cooperate with the
Government of Mexico on narcotics control efforts;
(3) obtaining assurances of substantial progress
by, and commitments from, the Government of Mex-
ico that the Government will take concrete measures
to find and eliminate law enforcement corruption in
Mexico and will cooperate fully with United States
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SEC. 5. CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CONGRESS.
(a) CONSULTATIONS.—The President shall consult
with the Congress on the status of counter-narcotics co-
operation between the United States and each major illicit
drug producing country or major drug-transit country.
(b) PURPOSE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The purpose of the con-
sultations under subsection (a) shall be to facilitate
improved discussion and understanding between the
Congress and the President on United States
counter-narcotics goals and objectives with regard to
the countries described in subsection (a), including
the strategy for achieving such goals and objectives.
(2) REGULAR
AND
SPECIAL
CONSULTA-
TIONS.—In order to carry out paragraph (1), the
President (or senior officials designated by the
President who are responsible for international nar-
cotics programs and policies) shall meet with Mem-
bers of Congress—
(A) on a quarterly basis for discussions
and consultations; and
(B) whenever time-sensitive issues arise.
SEC. 6. HIGH LEVEL COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL
NARCOTICS CONTROL.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
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(1) The consumption of narcotics in the United
States is a serious problem that is ravaging the
United States, especially America’s youth.
(2) Despite the dedicated and persistent efforts
of the United States and other nations, international
narcotics trafficking and consumption remains a se-
rious problem.
(3) The total eradication of international nar-
cotics trafficking requires a long-term strategy that
necessitates close international cooperation.
(4) The annual certification process relating to
international narcotics control under section 490 of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2291j) is flawed because—
(A) the process addresses only whether or
not the source country is cooperating with Unit-
ed States narcotics control efforts and does not
take into account all underlying factors;
(B) the process reviews narcotics control
efforts only on an annual basis; and
(C) the process fails to account for the di-
vergent economic, political, and social cir-
cumstances of countries under review which can
influence the decision by the United States to
decertify a foreign nation, thereby leading to
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unpredictability, non-transparency, and lack of
international credibility in the process.
(5) The problem of international narcotics traf-
ficking is not being effectively addressed by the an-
nual certification process under section 490 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291j).
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the High Level Commission on
International Narcotics Control (hereinafter referred to as
the ‘‘Commission’’).
(c) DUTIES.—The Commission shall conduct a review
of the annual certification process relating to international
narcotics control under section 490 of the Foreign Assist-
ance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291j) to determine the ef-
fectiveness of such process in curtailing international drug
trafficking, and the effectiveness of such process in reduc-
ing drug use and consumption within the United States.
(d) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission shall consist of 14 members, as follows:
(A) The Secretary of State or the Sec-
retary’s designee.
(B) The Secretary of the Treasury or the
Secretary’s designee.
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(C) The Attorney General or the Attorney
General’s designee.
(D) The Director of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy or the Director’s designee.
(E) The Governors of the States of Ari-
zona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, or
their designees.
(F) The following Members of Congress
appointed not later than 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this joint resolution as fol-
lows:
(i)(I) 2 Members of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
(II) 1 member of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(ii)(I) 2 Members of the Senate ap-
pointed by the majority leader of the Sen-
ate.
(II) 1 member of the Senate ap-
pointed by the minority leader of the Sen-
ate.
(2) TERMS.—Each member of the Commission
shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
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(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission
shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(4) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the
Commission shall be elected by the members.
(5) BASIC PAY.—Each member shall serve with-
out pay. Each member shall receive travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accord-
ance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United
States Code.
(6) QUORUM.—A majority of the members shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(7) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at
the call of the chairperson.
(e) DIRECTOR AND STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULT-
ANTS.—
(1) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a
director who shall be appointed by the chairperson
subject to rules prescribed by the Commission.
(2) STAFF.—Subject to rules prescribed by the
Commission, the chairperson may appoint and fix
the pay of such additional personnel as the chair-
person considers appropriate.
(3) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE
LAWS.—The director and staff of the Commission
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may be appointed without regard to title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competi-
tive service, and may be paid without regard to the
requirements of chapter 51 and subchapter III of
chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and
General Schedule pay rates, except that an individ-
ual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of
the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for
GS-15 of the General Schedule.
(4) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The chair-
person may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code, at rates for individuals not to exceed
the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of
basic pay payable for GS-15 of the General Sched-
ule.
(5) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re-
quest of the chairperson, the head of any Federal
agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of
the personnel of the agency to the Commission to as-
sist the Commission in carrying out its duties.
(f) POWERS.—
(1) OBTAINING
OFFICIAL
DATA.—The chair-
person may secure directly from any Federal agency
information necessary to enable the Commission to