Date: 2010-03-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1032. "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should continue to assist the Mexican Government in fighting the drug cartels and curbing violence against Mexican and United States citizens. both in the United States and abroad." Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative JUDY CHU for introducing this resolution. as it is vitally important both to our national security and the safety of the American people that we confront the problem of transnational drug trafficking and attempt to reduce the violence associated with the trade of narcotics. Violence related to the drug trade has hit catastrophic proportions over the last few years. Just across the United StatesMexico border from my home state of Texas a battle is being waged by armed gangs for the control of the illicit transnational drug market. In Mexico alone. drug cartels killed at least 5.600 people in 2008 and that number increased to more than 7.000 people in 2009. I condemn in the strongest possible terms this type of senseless violence and will work to see that violence against civilians in the U.S. and in Mexico is curbed or eliminated. Unfortunately. executionstyle killings and kidnappings have become the norm in many Mexican cities like Ciudad Judrez and Gomez Palacio as drug cartels attempt to extend the reach of their power and institute a sense of fear over the local populations. In one of the most atrocious acts of violence against an innocent U.S. citizen. Bobby Salcedo was killed executionstyle while vacationing in Mexico by a single gunshot to the head after being kidnapped. Mr. Salcedo was kidnapped while at dinner with family and friends in a restaurant and had no apparent connections to the drug or arms trade. Mr. Salcedo was a pillar of his community in El Monte City. California where he served on the local School Board. and also served as the vice principal and football coach of Mountain View High School. Mr. Salcedo also served as a local leader for such organizations as the South El Monte/Gomez Palacio. Durango. Mexico Sister City Organization. Furthermore. Mr. Salcedo was in the process of earning a doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of California. Los Angeles. and had previously earned his bachelors degree in history from California State University. Long Beach. and a masters degree in educational administration from California State University. San Bernardino. Violence from the drug trade has also created many problems in my home city of Houston. Texas. Houston has one of the highest murder rates among U.S. cities with a population over 1 million. Furthermore. much of this violence likely stems from the fact that Houston is a major hub for drug traffickers. who supply cocaine. marijuana. heroin. and methamphetamine to distributors in other American markets. Many of these issues surrounding violence also stem from the problem of transnational gangs and organized crime cartels. There are currently at least seven drug cartel organizations operating between the U.S. and Mexico. These groups are not only involved in the illicit transportation of drugs but are also involved in the illicit trade of firearms. execution of public officials and these groups have also terrorized entire local populations. Many of these gangs and cartel organizations also have vast links and networks within the U.S.. some even managing to penetrate American Junior High and High Schools. It is important that we recognize this threat and work towards the dissolution of these groups and continue to promote legitimate transnational trade and exchange. I would like to commend the Mexican Government under the leadership of President Felipe Calderon for having significantly increased their efforts to stop the drug cartels and end the violence. deploying some 45.000 troops and 5.000 police throughout Mexico. We in the U.S. will continue to support the Mexican Government as we did in 2008 when over $1.300.000.000 was appropriated to the Mexican Government to fight the illicit drug trade. This money was appropriated under the Merida Initiative to help break the power of the drug cartels. assist the Mexican Government in strengthening its military organizations. to help improve the capacity of its justice system. curtail gang activity in Mexico. and to diminish demand for drugs in the region It is important that we continue to work vigilantly towards breaking the illicit drug trade links and networks between the U.S. and Mexico while working together to create a bright future through legitimate commercial and financial trade between our two great nations. I am quite confident that through a concerted effort towards increasing transnational trade and creating opportunities in the legitimate sector we can work towards a brighter future for both the U.S. and Mexico. I ask that my colleagues support this resolution. I also ask my colleagues for their continued support of antidrug trade measures as well as their support for ending the spate of violence that has become associated with the drug trade.