[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 502 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 502
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize assistance to
improve security and promote economic development in Mexico.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 17, 2007
Mr. Cuellar (for himself and Mr. Reyes) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize assistance to
improve security and promote economic development in Mexico.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prosperous and Secure Neighbor
Alliance Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) An alarming increase in illicit drugs and drug-related
violence in Mexico and on the United States-Mexico border has
made life gradually more difficult for Americans living in
border communities.
(2) The precarious security situation on the United States-
Mexico border has also had a broader negative impact in the
United States with illicit drugs continuing to get into the
hands of our Nation's children.
(3) United States Director of National Intelligence John
Negroponte named Mexico in the Annual Threat Assessment of the
Director of National Intelligence for the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence (February 2, 2006) as a country of
concern regarding the capacity of drug trafficking
organizations to undermine already weak state authority.
(4) As a neighbor and as the second largest trading partner
of the United States, Mexico deserves the support of the United
States in taking steps to improve security and promote economic
development in Mexico.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It is, therefore, the policy of the
United States to increase United States foreign assistance to improve
security and promote economic development in Mexico, both of which are
crucial to more effectively combat illicit drugs and drug-related
violence and other criminal activities in Mexico and the United States.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961.
Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et
seq) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``CHAPTER 13--ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE SECURITY AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN MEXICO
``SEC. 499H. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.
``(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Director of
Foreign Assistance, shall provide assistance to improve security and
promote economic development in Mexico by--
``(1) professionalizing Mexican law enforcement personnel
to prepare such law enforcement personnel to more effectively
combat illicit drugs and drug-related violence and other
criminal activities, including by providing funding to
coordinate United States and Mexican efforts to find missing
United States citizens and to carry out DNA testing and
forensic examinations;
``(2) providing technology to assist Mexican law
enforcement personnel to more effectively combat illicit drugs
and drug-related violence;
``(3) strengthening the Mexican judicial branch through the
training of judges and prosecutors;
``(4) supporting anti-corruption programs in Mexico,
including the vetting of Mexican law enforcement personnel who
are working with United States Government personnel; and
``(5) reducing poverty through targeted funding to enhance
social development in Mexico, including micro-lending and trade
capacity building.
``(b) Terms and Conditions.--Assistance under this chapter may be
provided on such terms and conditions as the President may determine.
``SEC. 499I. EVALUATION.
``The President shall conduct an annual evaluation of the results
of the specific programs, projects, and activities carried out under
this chapter during the preceding year in order to ensure transparency
and accountability, including transparency and accountability of
recipients of assistance provided under this chapter.
``SEC. 499J. REPORT.
``The President shall prepare and transmit to the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives, the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and other appropriate congressional
committees an annual report on the specific programs, projects, and
activities carried out under this chapter during the preceding year,
including the evaluation conducted under section 499I.
``SEC. 499K. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
President to carry out this chapter $170,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2008 through 2012.
``(b) Additional Authorities.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a)--
``(1) are authorized to remain available until expended;
and
``(2) are in addition to amounts otherwise available for
such purposes.
``(c) Funding Limitation.--Not more than 5 percent of the amounts
appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under
subsection (a) for a fiscal year may be used for administrative
expenses.
``(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, of the
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations
under subsection (a) for a fiscal year--
``(1) $40,000,000 should be made available to carry out
section 499H(a)(1);
``(2) $50,000,000 should be made available to carry out
section 499H(a)(2);
``(3) $20,000,000 should be made available to carry out
section 499H(a)(3);
``(4) $10,000,000 should be made available to carry out
section 499H(a)(4); and
``(5) $50,000,000 should be made available to carry out
section 499H(a)(5).''.
SEC. 4. REPORT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
Congress a report that contains a description and analysis of the most
effective strategies to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the
United States, specifically (but not limited to) strategies that reduce
the demand for illicit drugs produced in or transported through Mexico.
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