IIB 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6028 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JUNE 11, 2008 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
AN ACT 
To authorize law enforcement and security assistance, and 
assistance to enhance the rule of law and strengthen 
civilian institutions, for Mexico and the countries of Cen-
tral America, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce 
Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—ASSISTANCE FOR MEXICO 
Sec. 101. Findings. 
Sec. 102. Declarations of policy. 
Subtitle A—Law Enforcement and Security Assistance 
Sec. 111. Purposes of assistance. 
Sec. 112. Authorization of assistance. 
Sec. 113. Activities supported. 
Sec. 114. Limitation on assistance. 
Sec. 115. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle B—Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen Civilian 
Institutions 
Sec. 121. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 122. Authorization of assistance. 
Sec. 123. Activities supported. 
Sec. 124. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE II—ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA 
Sec. 201. Findings. 
Sec. 202. Declarations of policy. 
Subtitle A—Law Enforcement and Security Assistance 
Sec. 211. Purposes of assistance. 
Sec. 212. Authorization of assistance. 
Sec. 213. Activities supported. 
Sec. 214. Limitation on assistance. 
Sec. 215. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle B—Assistance to Enhance the Rule of Law and Strengthen Civilian 
Institutions 
Sec. 221. Authorization of assistance. 
Sec. 222. Activities supported. 
Sec. 223. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE III—ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
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Sec. 301. Conditions on provision of assistance. 
Sec. 302. Limitations on provision of assistance. 
Sec. 303. Limitation on monitoring. 
Sec. 304. Exemption from prohibition on assistance for law enforcement forces. 
Sec. 305. Relationship to other authority. 
Sec. 306. Rule of construction. 
TITLE IV—SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES 
Sec. 401. Report on reduction of drug demand in the United States. 
Sec. 402. Reduction of southbound flow of illegal weapons. 
Sec. 403. Reduction of southbound flow of illegal precursor chemicals and bulk- 
cash transfers. 
Sec. 404. Report. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 501. Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Implement the 
Merida Initiative. 
Sec. 502. Metrics and oversight mechanisms. 
Sec. 503. Report. 
Sec. 504. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 505. Sunset. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’— 
(A) means— 
(i) the Committee on Appropriations 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(ii) the Committee on Appropriations 
and the Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate; and 
(B) for purposes of titles IV and V, in-
cludes the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
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House of Representatives and the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the Senate. 
(2) COUNTRIES
OF
CENTRAL
AMERICA.—The 
term ‘‘countries of Central America’’ means Belize, 
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, and Panama and includes Haiti and the 
Dominican Republic. 
(3) MERIDA
INITIATIVE.—The term ‘‘Merida 
Initiative’’ means the program announced by the 
United States and Mexico on October 22, 2007, to 
fight illicit narcotics trafficking and criminal organi-
zations throughout the Western Hemisphere. 
TITLE I—ASSISTANCE FOR 
MEXICO 
SEC. 101. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The drug crisis facing the United States re-
mains a significant national security threat. 
(2) The Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) estimates that 90 percent of illegal drugs 
that enter the United States come through the Mex-
ico-Central America corridor. 
(3) The same smuggling routes that are used to 
bring illegal narcotics north are utilized to illegally 
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distribute arms, precursor chemicals, and bulk cash 
transfers south. 
(4) Drug gangs that operate in the United 
States, Mexico, and Central America have become 
sophisticated and vertically-integrated operations ex-
pert at penetrating the United States-Mexico border. 
(5) Narcotics-related activity and expanding 
cross-border trafficking is dangerously undermining 
the security environment for our neighbors to the 
South, as well as in the United States. 
(6) Mexico can and has served as a critical ally 
and partner in stemming the flow of illegal narcotics 
into the United States. Under the leadership of 
Mexican President Felipe Caldero´n, the United 
States and Mexico have initiated an approach of 
joint responsibility to confront the threat of illicit 
narcotics trafficking and organized crime in the 
Western Hemisphere. 
(7) The spread of illicit narcotics through 
United States borders and the violence that accom-
panies it cannot be halted without a comprehensive 
interdiction and security strategy planned and exe-
cuted jointly with our southern neighbors. 
(8) In March 2007, President George W. Bush 
and Mexican President Caldero´n held a summit in 
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the Mexican City of Merida and agreed that the 
United States and Mexico must expand bilateral and 
regional cooperation to fight violence stemming from 
narcotrafficking and regional criminal organizations. 
(9) On October 22, 2007, the United States 
and Mexico issued a joint statement announcing the 
Merida Initiative, a program to fight illicit narcotics 
trafficking and criminal organizations throughout 
the Western Hemisphere. 
(10) In the joint statement— 
(A) Mexico pledged to ‘‘strengthen its 
operational capabilities to more effectively fight 
drug-traffickers and organized crime’’; 
(B) the United States pledged ‘‘to intensify 
its efforts to address all aspects of drug traf-
ficking (including demand-related portions) and 
continue to combat trafficking of weapons and 
bulk currency to Mexico’’; and 
(C) both nations pledged to ‘‘augment co-
operation, coordination, and the exchange of in-
formation to fight criminal organizations on 
both sides of the border’’. 
(11) A long-term strategy to adequately contain 
the northbound and southbound flows of illicit nar-
cotics along the United States-Mexico border, as well 
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as protect the vast and free flow of trade, will re-
quire the United States to partner with its southern 
neighbors in their efforts to build the capacity of 
their own law enforcement agencies and enhance the 
rule of law, as well as to fortify United States illicit 
narcotics reduction efforts. 
SEC. 102. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY. 
Congress makes the following declarations: 
(1) The Merida Initiative is a critical part of a 
growing partnership and strategy of cooperation be-
tween the United States and its southern neighbors 
to confront the illegal flow of narcotics as well as vi-
olence and organized crime that it has spawned. 
(2) The United States needs to ensure the free 
flow of trade between the United States and its crit-
ical neighbor, Mexico, while ensuring that the 
United States border is protected from illegal smug-
gling into the United States. 
(3) The United States must intensify efforts to 
stem the flow of precursor chemicals, bulk cash, and 
the so-called ‘‘iron-river’’ of arms illegally flowing 
south, as well as demand-related aspects of the illicit 
narcotics phenomenon. 
(4) The United States should provide its exper-
tise to meet immediate security needs along the 
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United States-Mexico border, fight the production 
and flow of illicit narcotics, and support Mexico in 
its efforts to do the same. 
(5) The United States should support the Gov-
ernment of Mexico’s work to expand its own law en-
forcement to independently conduct successful coun-
ternarcotics and organized crime-related operations. 
(6) The Merida Initiative reflects the belief that 
Mexican military involvement is required in the 
short-term to stabilize the security situation, but 
that most aspects of this problem fall into the realm 
of law enforcement. 
(7) In implementing the Merida Initiative, the 
United States should work with its southern neigh-
bors to mitigate the so-called ‘‘balloon effect’’ in 
which successful counternarcotics efforts shift nar-
cotics-related activities to other areas. 
(8) The United States should coordinate with 
the Congress of the Union of Mexico to ensure full 
partnership on the programs authorized under this 
Act. 
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Subtitle A—Law Enforcement and 
Security Assistance 
SEC. 111. PURPOSES OF ASSISTANCE. 
The purposes of assistance under this subtitle are 
to— 
(1) enhance the ability of the Government of 
Mexico, in cooperation with the United States, to 
control illicit narcotics production, trafficking, drug 
trafficking organizations, and organized crime; 
(2) help build the capacity of law enforcement 
forces of Mexico to control illicit narcotics produc-
tion, trafficking, drug trafficking organizations, and 
organized crime; 
(3) aid the support role that the armed forces 
of Mexico is providing to law enforcement agencies 
of Mexico as the security situation in Mexico is ini-
tially stabilized; 
(4) protect and secure the United States-Mexico 
border, and control illegal activity going south as 
well as north; 
(5) strengthen the bilateral and regional ties of 
the United States with Mexico and the countries of 
Central America by assuming shared responsibility 
and offering concrete assistance in this area of great 
mutual concern; 
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(6) strengthen respect for internationally recog-
nized human rights and the rule of law in efforts to 
stabilize the security environment relating to illicit 
narcotics production and trafficking and organized 
crime; and 
(7) support the judicial branches of the Govern-
ment of Mexico and the countries of Central Amer-
ica, as well as support anti-corruption efforts in 
those countries; and 
(8) respond to the direct requests of the Gov-
ernment of Mexico that the United States reduce the 
demand for illicit narcotics in the United States, 
stem the flow of illegal arms into Mexico from the 
United States, stem the flow of illegal bulk-cash 
transfers into Mexico from the United States, and 
stem the flow of illegal precursor chemicals into 
Mexico from the United States. 
SEC. 112. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE. 
To carry out the purposes of section 111, the Presi-
dent is authorized to provide assistance for Mexico to sup-
port the activities described in section 113. 
SEC. 113. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Activities that may be supported 
by assistance under section 112 include the following: 
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(1) 
COUNTERNARCOTICS
AND 
COUNTERTRAFFICKING.—To assist in building the 
capacity of law enforcement and security forces of 
Mexico to eradicate illicit narcotics trafficking and 
reduce trafficking-fueled violence, including along 
the United States-Mexico border, including assist-
ance such as— 
(A) radar and aerial surveillance equip-
ment; 
(B) land and maritime interdiction equip-
ment and training, including— 
(i) transport helicopters and night-op-
erating capabilities; 
(ii) surveillance platform planes; and 
(iii) maintenance and training relating 
to maintenance of aircraft; and 
(C) training of security and law enforce-
ment units to plan and execute counternarcotics 
operations. 
(2) PORT, 
AIRPORT, 
AND
RELATED
SECU-
RITY.—To assist in monitoring and controlling the 
United States-Mexico border and the border between 
Mexico and Central America to combat illicit nar-
cotics trafficking, including assistance such as— 
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(A) computer infrastructure and equip-
ment; 
(B) secure communications networks; and 
(C) nonintrusive monitoring technology. 
(3) OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY.— 
(A) ASSISTANCE
OBJECTIVES.—To assist 
in investigation and collection of intelligence 
against illicit drug trafficking organizations, in-
cluding— 
(i) expansion of intelligence databases; 
and 
(ii) hardware, operating systems, and 
training for updating the communications 
networks of security agencies. 
(B) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense 
of Congress that— 
(i) operational technology transferred 
to the Government of Mexico for intel-
ligence or law enforcement purposes should 
be used solely for the purposes for which 
the operational technology was intended; 
and 
(ii) the United States should take all 
necessary steps to ensure that use of oper-
ational technology described in clause (i) is 
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consistent with United States law, includ-
ing protections of freedom of expression, 
freedom of movement, and freedom of as-
sociation. 
(4) PUBLIC
SECURITY
AND
LAW
ENFORCE-
MENT.—To assist in the modernization of law en-
forcement entities and prevent crime, including as-
sistance and activities such as— 
(A) law enforcement training and equip-
ment, including— 
(i) transport helicopters; 
(ii) surveillance aircraft, including 
Cessna Caravan light utility aircraft; 
(iii) nonintrusive inspection equip-
ment; and 
(iv) human rights training for law en-
forcement units; 
(B) enhancement of the Government of 
Mexico’s financial intelligence unit; 
(C) safety-related equipment for law en-
forcement officers and prosecutors, including 
protective vests and helmet sets; 
(D) reduction of drug demand in Mexico, 
including activities such as— 
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(i) assistance to the National Council 
Against Addictions (CONADIC) to estab-
lish an Internet web-based support net-
work; 
(ii) establishment of a national data 
center to support the CONADIC; and 
(iii) training of CONADIC and other 
agency staff in best practices and outreach 
and treatment programs, and design of a 
methodology to implement best practices in 
conjunction with the National Network for 
Technological Transfers in Addiction. 
(b) PROVISION
OF
HELICOPTERS.—Funds made 
available to carry out this subtitle to provide helicopters 
to the Government of Mexico, shall, to the extent possible, 
be used to procure or provide helicopters that are of a 
similar manufacture to those helicopters already in the 
possession of the Government of Mexico in order to facili-
tate integration of those assets into Mexico’s existing air 
fleet. 
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States shall ensure, to the extent 
possible, that assistance under this subtitle is made avail-
able and cross-utilized by the armed forces of Mexico and 
relevant law enforcement agencies of the Government of 
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Mexico, including the Mexican Office of the Attorney Gen-
eral. 
SEC. 114. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE. 
(a) LIMITATION.—No assistance may be provided 
under this subtitle to any unit of the armed forces of Mex-
ico or any unit of the law enforcement agencies of Mexico 
if the Secretary of State determines that, consistent with 
section 620J of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2378d), there is credible evidence that such unit 
has committed gross violations of human rights. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—The limitation in subsection (a) 
shall not apply if the Secretary of State determines and 
reports to the appropriate congressional committees that 
the Government of Mexico is taking effective measures to 
bring the responsible members of the unit of the armed 
forces or law enforcement agencies, as the case may be, 
to justice. 
SEC. 115. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this subtitle, there 
are authorized to be appropriated to the President 
$350,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $390,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2009, and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(b) LIMITATION.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of the amounts appro-
priated pursuant to the authorization of appropria-
tions under subsection (a)— 
(A) not more than $205,000,000 may be 
provided as assistance for the armed forces of 
Mexico for 2008; 
(B) not more than $120,000,000 may be 
provided as assistance for the armed forces of 
Mexico for 2009; and 
(C) not more than $9,000,000 may be pro-
vided as assistance for the armed forces of Mex-
ico for 2010. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
LIMITATION.—None of the 
funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
appropriations under subsection (a) for fiscal year 
2009 may be provided as assistance for the Mexican 
Secretariat of Public Security until the President de-
termines that the Mexican National Registry of Po-
lice Personnel (Registro Nacional de Personal 
Policial) is operational at the federal, state, and 
local levels. 
(c) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) 
are— 
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(1) authorized to remain available until ex-
pended; and 
(2) in addition to funds otherwise available for 
such purposes, including funds available under chap-
ter 8 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291 et seq.). 
Subtitle B—Assistance to Enhance 
the Rule of Law and Strengthen 
Civilian Institutions 
SEC. 121. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that, as a critical part 
of a joint, comprehensive security, counternarcotics, and 
organized crime initiative, the United States should sup-
port— 
(1) programs of the United States Agency for 
International Development and other United States 
agencies focused on strengthening civilian institu-
tions and rule of law programs in Mexico at the fed-
eral, state, and local levels; and 
(2) anti-corruption, transparency, and human 
rights programs to ensure due process and expand 
a culture of lawfulness in Mexico. 
SEC. 122. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE. 
The President is authorized to provide assistance for 
Mexico to support the activities described in section 123. 
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SEC. 123. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED. 
Activities that may be supported by assistance under 
section 122 include the following: 
(1) INSTITUTION
BUILDING
AND
RULE
OF 
LAW.—To assist Mexico’s efforts to expand the rule 
of law and build the capacity, transparency, and 
trust in government institutions, including assistance 
such as— 
(A) rule of law and systemic improvements 
in judicial and criminal justice sector institu-
tions, including— 
(i) courts management and prosecu-
torial capacity building; 
(ii) prison reform activities, including 
those relating to anti-gang and anti-orga-
nized crime efforts; 
(iii) anti-money laundering programs; 
(iv) victim and witness protection and 
restitution; and 
(v) promotion of transparent oral 
trials via training for the judicial sector; 
(B) police professionalization, including— 
(i) training regarding use of force; 
(ii) human rights education and train-
ing; 
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(B) support for greater transparency and 
accountability in the Mexican legal system, in-
cluding— 
(i) establishment of a center in the 
Mexican Office of the Attorney General for 
receipt of citizen complaints; 
(ii) establishment of clerk of the court 
system to track cases and pretrial deten-
tions; 
(iii) reorganization of human and fi-
nancial resources systems; and 
(iv) equipping and training of criminal 
investigators; and 
(C) promotion of human rights, includ-
ing— 
(i) support for human rights organiza-
tions, bar associations, and law schools; 
and 
(ii) training for police, prosecutors, 
and corrections officers. 
(3) PREVENTION.—To assist in the prevention 
of individuals from participating in illicit narcotics- 
related violent activities, such as— 
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(A) establishment of programs that ad-
dress domestic violence and increase school at-
tendance rates; and 
(B) expansion of intervention programs, 
including after-school programs and programs 
for at-risk and criminal involved youth. 
(4) DEVELOPMENT.—To assist in the develop-
ment of areas where lack of jobs breeds illicit nar-
cotics-related violence, including— 
(A) expansion of alternative livelihood pro-
grams, including job creation programs and 
rural development programs and the provision 
of 
microenterprise 
development 
assistance 
under title VI of chapter 2 of part I of the For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2211 et 
seq.); and 
(B) establishment of gang reeducation and 
training programs. 
SEC. 124. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this subtitle, there 
are authorized to be appropriated to the President 
$120,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $100,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2009, and $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
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(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) 
are— 
(1) authorized to remain available until ex-
pended; and 
(2) in addition to funds otherwise available for 
such purposes, including funds available under chap-
ter 8 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961. 
TITLE 
II—ASSISTANCE 
FOR 
COUNTRIES 
OF 
CENTRAL 
AMERICA 
SEC. 201. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) A May 2007 report by the United Nations 
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) argues that 
countries of Central America are particularly vulner-
able to violent crimes fueled by illicit narcotics traf-
ficking and corruption because such countries are 
geographically located between the world’s largest 
drug producing and drug consuming countries. 
(2) According to Assistant Secretary of State 
for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon, 
‘‘[T]he nations of Central America have committed 
to collective action to address these common security 
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concerns. Through the Central American Integration 
System (SICA), the governments have expressed the 
political resolve to join forces to strengthen regional 
security; however they lack sufficient tools and ca-
pacity to execute such will.’’. 
(3) Crime and violence in Central America has 
increased in recent years. 
(4) In 2005, the estimated murder rate per 
100,000 people was roughly 56 in El Salvador, 41 
in Honduras, and 38 in Guatemala. 
(5) Youth gang violence has been one of the 
major factors contributing to increased violence in 
Central America, with the United States Southern 
Command estimating that there are 70,000 gang 
members in Central America. 
(6) Many Central American youth gangs are 
transnational and negatively impact both Central 
America and the United States. 
(7) Youth gang violence cannot be curbed only 
through enforcement, but must also include a sub-
stantial investment in prevention, rehabilitation, and 
reintegration. 
(8) Deportees sent from the United States back 
to Central America, while not a central cause of 
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crime and violence, can contribute to crime and vio-
lence in Central America. 
(9) Guatemala has experienced a surge in mur-
ders of women in recent years, many of which have 
been committed by illicit narcotics traffickers and 
other organized criminals. 
(10) Violence between partners, particularly vio-
lence by men against their wives or girlfriends, is 
widespread in Central America, and an international 
violence against women survey comparing selected 
countries in Africa, Latin America, Europe, and 
Asia found that 60 percent of women in Costa 
Rica—often considered the least violent country in 
Central America—reported having experienced do-
mestic violence during their lives. 
(11) Weak justice systems in the countries of 
Central America have led to a high level of impunity 
in Central America. 
(12) The United Nations International Com-
mission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) 
was recently created to begin to address impunity 
related to illegally armed groups in Guatemala. 
(13) The United States and the Central Amer-
ican Integration System (SICA) signed an agree-
ment in July 2007 to improve intelligence sharing 
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and policing and to institutionalize dialogue on re-
gional security. 
SEC. 202. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY. 
Congress makes the following declarations: 
(1) A long-term United States strategy to curb 
illicit narcotics trafficking must include Central 
America, which is the corridor for 90 percent of the 
cocaine that transits from South America to the 
United States. 
(2) It is in the interest of the United States to 
support a long-term commitment to assisting the 
countries of Central America to improve security by 
combating illicit narcotics trafficking, investing in 
prevention programs, increasing intelligence sharing, 
improving regional security coordination, improving 
border and customs capabilities, professionalizing 
police, justice, and other government officials, and 
funding programs to reintegrate deportees from the 
United States. 
(3) The countries of Central America are com-
mitted to combating illicit narcotics trafficking and 
its related violence and crime, including gang vio-
lence, and the United States must seize the oppor-
tunity to work in partnership with Central America. 
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SEC. 212. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE. 
To carry out the purposes of section 211, the Presi-
dent is authorized to provide assistance for the countries 
of Central America to support the activities described in 
section 213. 
SEC. 213. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED. 
Activities that may be supported by assistance under 
section 212 include the following: 
(1) 
COUNTERNARCOTICS, 
COUNTERTRAFFICKING, AND RELATED SECURITY.— 
(A) ASSISTANCE
OBJECTIVES.—To assist 
in the following: 
(i) Investigation and collection of in-
telligence against illicit narcotics traf-
ficking. 
(ii) Combating illegal trafficking in 
arms. 
(iii) Prevention of bulk currency 
smuggling. 
(iv) Collection of information on crime 
and establishment of a regional database. 
(B) ASSISTANCE.—Activities under sub-
paragraph (A) may include— 
(i) automated fingerprint identifica-
tion systems (AFIS); 
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(ii) vetting sensitive investigative units 
to collaborate on counternarcotics at the 
federal, state, and local levels; 
(iii) technical assistance to develop 
strong and effective financial crimes inves-
tigation units; 
(iv) maritime security support, includ-
ing refurbishing and procuring patrol 
boats; 
(v) firearms interdiction training; and 
(vi) illicit narcotics demand reduction 
programs. 
(2) PUBLIC
SECURITY
AND
LAW
ENFORCE-
MENT.—To assist in building the capacity of the po-
lice in countries of Central America, supporting ef-
forts to combat transnational gangs, investing in 
gang prevention and rehabilitation programs, and 
programs for the reintegration of deportees, includ-
ing assistance such as— 
(A) funding to continue the United States- 
Central American Integration System (SICA) 
Dialogue; 
(B) youth gang prevention activities, in-
cluding targeted education for at-risk youth, vo-
cational training and funding of community 
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centers in areas with high youth gang violence 
rates and other risk factors; 
(C) programs to reintegrate deportees from 
the United States back into the societies of 
their home countries to avoid further criminal 
activity; 
(D) transnational anti-gang initiatives; 
(E) police professionalization, including— 
(i) training regarding use of force; 
(ii) human rights education and train-
ing; 
(iii) training regarding evidence pres-
ervation and chain of custody; and 
(iv) enhanced capacity to vet can-
didates; 
(F) utilization of the International Law 
Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in El Salvador 
consistent with traditional respect for human 
rights and professional police practices; 
(G) police training programs of the Orga-
nization of American States (OAS ); 
(H) police equipment, including commu-
nications equipment; and 
(I) anti-domestic violence education pro-
grams and women’s shelters. 
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SEC. 214. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE. 
(a) LIMITATION.—No assistance may be provided 
under this subtitle to any unit of the armed forces of a 
country of Central America or any unit of the law enforce-
ment agencies of a country of Central America if the Sec-
retary of State determines that, consistent with section 
620J of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2378d), there is credible evidence that such unit has com-
mitted gross violations of human rights. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—The limitation in subsection (a) 
shall not apply if the Secretary of State determines and 
reports to the appropriate congressional committees that 
the government of the relevant country of Central America 
is taking effective measures to bring the responsible mem-
bers of the unit of the armed forces or law enforcement 
agencies, as the case may be, to justice. 
SEC. 215. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this subtitle, there 
are authorized to be appropriated to the President 
$60,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $80,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2009, and $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) 
are— 
(1) authorized to remain available until ex-
pended; and 
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(2) in addition to funds otherwise available for 
such purposes, including funds under chapters 2 and 
8 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2166 and 2291 et seq.). 
(c) LIMITATION.—Of the amounts appropriated pur-
suant to the authorization of appropriations under sub-
section (a) for any fiscal year, at least $15,000,000 should 
be made available to carry out section 213(2)(B). 
Subtitle B—Assistance to Enhance 
the Rule of Law and Strengthen 
Civilian Institutions 
SEC. 221. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE. 
The President is authorized to provide assistance for 
the countries of Central America to support the activities 
described in section 222. 
SEC. 222. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED. 
Activities that may be supported by assistance under 
section 221 include assistance in building the capacity, 
transparency, and trust in the justice system of the coun-
tries of Central America and reducing high impunity rates 
in the countries of Central America, including assistance 
such as— 
(1) improved police academies and entry level 
training on crime investigations; 
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(2) courts management and prosecutor capacity 
building; 
(3) witness and victim protection programs, in-
cluding in Guatemala in coordination with the 
United Nations International Commission Against 
Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG); 
(4) programs to enhance transparency in the 
procedures to designate and remove personnel in the 
recipient country’s judicial system; 
(5) prosecutor and judge protection programs, 
including in Guatemala and in coordination with the 
CICIG; 
(6) short-term assignment of United States 
Government personnel to the CICIG to provide tech-
nical assistance for criminal investigations, specifi-
cally but not limited to investigations involving 
money laundering so long as this assignment does 
not negatively impact United States domestic oper-
ations; 
(7) regional juvenile justice reform; 
(8) prison management; 
(9) programs to rehabilitate gang members re-
leased from prison, including job training; and 
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(10) community policing, including human 
rights and use of force training for community polic-
ing projects. 
SEC. 223. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this title, there are 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
President 
$40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $50,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2009, and $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) 
are— 
(1) authorized to remain available until ex-
pended; and 
(2) in addition to funds otherwise available for 
such purposes, including funds available under chap-
ters 2 and 8 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2166 and 2291 et seq.). 
TITLE III—ADMINISTRATIVE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. CONDITIONS ON PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President may not provide 
assistance under title I or II to a foreign country for a 
fiscal year until the end of a 15-day period beginning on 
the date on which the President transmits to the appro-
priate congressional committees a determination that the 
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requirements described in subsection (b) have been met 
with respect to the government of such foreign country 
for such fiscal year. 
(b) REQUIRED DETERMINATION.—The requirements 
referred to in subsection (a) are the following: 
(1) The provision of assistance will not ad-
versely affect the human rights situation in the for-
eign country. 
(2) Vetting procedures are in place to ensure 
that members and units of the armed forces and law 
enforcement agencies of the foreign country that 
may receive assistance under title I or II have not 
been involved in human rights violations. 
(3) The civilian authority in the foreign country 
is investigating and prosecuting any member of any 
government agency or entity receiving assistance 
under title I or II who has been credibly alleged to 
have committed human rights violations on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(4) Equipment and material provided as sup-
port is being used only by officials and employees of 
the government of the foreign country who have 
been approved by such government to perform coun-
ternarcotics activities, including on the basis of the 
background investigations by such government. 
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(5) The government of the foreign country has 
cooperated with the Secretary of State to ensure 
that— 
(A) the equipment and material provided 
as support will be used only by the officials and 
employees referred to in paragraph (4); 
(B) none of the equipment or material will 
be transferred (by sale, gift, or otherwise) to 
any person or entity not authorized by the 
United States to receive the equipment or mate-
rial; and 
(C) the equipment and material will, to the 
extent possible, be used for the purposes in-
tended by the United States Government and 
will be utilized by those agencies for which such 
assistance is intended. 
(6) The government of the foreign country has 
implemented, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, a system that will provide an accounting and 
inventory of the equipment and material provided as 
support. 
(7) The government of the foreign country will, 
along with United States personnel, conduct periodic 
observation and review of the use of the equipment 
and material provided as support under terms and 
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conditions similar to the terms and conditions im-
posed with respect to such observation and review 
under section 505(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2314(a)(3)). 
(8) To the extent the foreign country has re-
ceived equipment in the past, it has utilized the 
equipment properly and in a manner that warrants 
additional provision of equipment or assistance. 
SEC. 302. LIMITATIONS ON PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) activities undertaken under titles I and II 
of this Act should be performed wherever possible by 
official employees, personnel, or officers of the fed-
eral, state, or local government of the recipient for-
eign country; and 
(2) the United States should limit, to the max-
imum extent possible, the number of United States 
civilians and foreign nationals retained as contrac-
tors in a recipient country. 
(b) LIMITATIONS.—Except as provided in subsection 
(c)— 
(1) none of the funds made available to carry 
out title I may be available for the employment of 
any United States individual civilian retained as a 
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contractor in Mexico or any foreign national retained 
as a contractor if that employment would cause the 
total number of individual civilian contractors em-
ployed in Mexico in support of the Merida Initiative 
who are funded by United States funds to exceed 
50; 
(2) none of the funds made available to carry 
out title II may be available for the employment of 
any United States individual civilian retained as a 
contractor in a country of Central America or any 
foreign national retained as a contractor if that em-
ployment would cause the total number of individual 
civilian contractors employed in all countries of Cen-
tral America in support of the Merida Initiative who 
are funded by United States funds to exceed 100; 
and 
(3) none of the funds made available under this 
Act shall be made available for budget support or 
cash payments. 
(c) EXCEPTION.—The limitations contained in sub-
section (b) shall not apply if the President determines that 
it is in the national interest of the United States that such 
limitations shall not apply and transmits to the appro-
priate congressional committees a notification thereof. 
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SEC. 303. LIMITATION ON MONITORING. 
Beginning on October 1, 2009, no surveillance-re-
lated equipment may be transferred under this Act to any 
entity of Mexico or a country of Central America unless 
the President determines that the recipient country has 
cooperated with the United States to ensure that such 
equipment will be used principally for the purposes for 
which it is provided. 
SEC. 304. EXEMPTION FROM PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE 
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT FORCES. 
Notwithstanding section 660 of the Foreign Assist-
ance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2420; relating to the prohibi-
tion on assistance to foreign law enforcement forces), the 
President may provide assistance under title I or II if, at 
least 15 days before providing the assistance, the Presi-
dent notifies the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate, in accordance with the procedures 
applicable to reprogramming notifications pursuant to sec-
tion 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. 2394– 
1), that (1) it is in the national interest to provide such 
assistance, and (2) the recipient country is making signifi-
cant progress to eliminating any human rights violations. 
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SEC. 305. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER AUTHORITY. 
(a) ASSISTANCE UNDER TITLE I.—The authority to 
provide assistance under title I is in addition to any other 
authority to provide assistance for Mexico. 
(b) ASSISTANCE UNDER TITLE II.—The authority to 
provide assistance under title I is in addition to any other 
authority to provide assistance for the countries of Central 
America. 
SEC. 306. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in title I or II shall be construed to alter, 
modify, or otherwise affect the provisions of the Arms Ex-
port Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) unless otherwise 
specified in this Act. 
TITLE IV—SUPPORT ACTIVITIES 
IN THE UNITED STATES 
SEC. 401. REPORT ON REDUCTION OF DRUG DEMAND IN 
THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) supply-side drug reduction strategies when 
executed alone are not an effective way to fight the 
phenomenon of illegal narcotics; 
(2) the Government of Mexico has identified re-
duction of United States drug demand as among the 
most important contributions the United States can 
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make to a joint strategy to combat illicit narcotics 
trafficking; and 
(3) the United States pledged in the United 
States-Mexico October 2007 Joint Statement on the 
Merida Initiative, to ‘‘intensify its efforts to address 
all aspects of drug trafficking (including demand re-
lated portions)’’ here in the United States. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
the measures taken to intensify United States efforts to 
address United States demand-related aspects of the drug- 
trafficking phenomenon in accordance with the Joint 
Statement on the Merida Initiative announced by the 
United States and Mexico on October 22, 2007. 
SEC. 402. REDUCTION OF SOUTHBOUND FLOW OF ILLEGAL 
WEAPONS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) much of the increased violence in Mexico is 
perpetrated using firearms and ammunition smug-
gled illegally from the United States into Mexico; 
(2) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 
and Explosives (ATF) has told Congress of an ‘‘iron 
river of guns’’ with thousands of weapons per week 
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illegally crossing into Mexico from the United 
States; 
(3) more than 90 percent of the guns con-
fiscated yearly in Mexico originate in the United 
States and approximately 40 percent of the total 
trafficked weapons are linked to drug trafficking or-
ganizations; 
(4) along the 2,000 mile border from Browns-
ville, Texas, to San Diego, California, there are 
6,700 licensed gun sellers, but only 100 Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) 
special agents to investigate allegations of weapons 
trafficking and only 35 inspectors to ensure compli-
ance with United States laws; 
(5) on January 16, 2008, ATF announced that 
it will add 25 special agents and 15 inspectors to 
their Project Gunrunner along the Southwest Bor-
der. And, the ATF budget request for fiscal year 
2009 includes funding for another 12 inspectors; 
and 
(6) an effective strategy to combat these illegal 
arms flows is a critical part of a United States con-
tribution to a jointly executed anti-narcotics strategy 
with Mexico. 
(b) PROJECT GUNRUNNER INITIATIVE.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall, 
to the extent amounts are made available to carry 
out this subsection pursuant to paragraph (4), use 
such amounts for the Project Gunrunner initiative 
(hereafter in this subsection referred to as the ‘‘ini-
tiative’’) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
arms, and Explosives to expand the resources pro-
vided to identify, investigate, and prosecute individ-
uals involved in the trafficking of firearms across the 
United States-Mexico border. 
(2) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Attorney General shall— 
(A) assign additional agents of the Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 
to the area of the United States adjacent to the 
United States-Mexico border to support the ex-
pansion of the initiative; 
(B) establish not fewer than 1 initiative 
team in each State along the United States- 
Mexico border; and 
(C) coordinate with the heads of other rel-
evant federal law enforcement agencies and 
State and local law enforcement agencies to ad-
dress firearms trafficking in a comprehensive 
manner. 
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(3) ADDITIONAL STAFF.—The Attorney General 
may hire additional persons to be Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents for, and 
may use such other resources as may be necessary 
to adequately support, the initiative. 
(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 
carry out this subsection, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Attorney General $15,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010. 
(c) ENHANCED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Attorney General, in cooperation with 
the Secretary of State, is authorized and encour-
aged, as appropriate, to— 
(A) assign agents of the Bureau of Alco-
hol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the 
United States mission in Mexico, specifically in 
areas adjacent to the United States-Mexico bor-
der, to work with Mexican law enforcement 
agencies in conducting investigations relating to 
firearms trafficking and other criminal enter-
prises; 
(B) provide the equipment and techno-
logical resources necessary to support investiga-
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