What This Bill Does
This bill updates the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 to require a comprehensive strategy for stopping illegal drug trafficking through the Caribbean region into the United States. The bill specifically focuses on protecting Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands from drug trafficking and drug-related violence.
Who It Affects
Federal drug control agencies, Federal law enforcement agencies, State law enforcement agencies, Local law enforcement agencies, Puerto Rico government, United States Virgin Islands government.
Key Provisions
- The federal government must create a Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy that explains how it will prevent illegal drug trafficking through the Caribbean region into the United States, including through ports of entry (places where people and goods can enter), between ports of entry, and across air and maritime approaches (water routes). (Sec. 2(b)(D)(i)(I))
- The strategy must identify which federal drug control agencies are responsible for specific parts of the plan and what each agency must do. (Sec. 2(b)(D)(i)(II))
- The strategy must identify the specific resources and money needed for federal drug control agencies to carry out the plan. (Sec. 2(b)(D)(i)(III))
- The strategy must include specific plans to reduce illegal drug trafficking to or through Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, including measures to reduce drug-related violent crime on those islands. (Sec. 2(b)(D)(ii)(I))
- The strategy must recommend what additional help, money, or legal authorities federal, state and local law enforcement agencies may need to carry out the plan. (Sec. 2(b)(D)(ii)(II))
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the Office of National Drug Control Policy must add new definitions for "State" and "United States" to include all U.S. territories and possessions. (Sec. 2(a)) Additionally, counternarcotics activities (drug-fighting efforts) will now officially include work to track and dismantle the financial networks of drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations (networks that move illegal drug money). (Sec. 2(a))
Important Definitions
- "State" means each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and each territory or possession of the United States. (Sec. 2(a))
- "United States" in a geographical sense means all fifty states, the District of Columbia, the territories and possessions of the United States, and any waters under U.S. jurisdiction. (Sec. 2(a))
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 920
To amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act
of 1998 to require a Caribbean border counternarcotics strategy, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Mrs. GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N (for herself and Ms. PLASKETT) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Ac-
countability, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reau-
thorization Act of 1998 to require a Caribbean border
counternarcotics strategy, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Caribbean Border
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Counternarcotics Strategy Act’’.
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•HR 920 IH
SEC. 2. CARIBBEAN BORDER COUNTERNARCOTICS STRAT-
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EGY ACT.
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(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 702 of the Office of Na-
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tional Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998
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(21 U.S.C. 1701) is amended—
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(1) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through
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(17) as paragraphs (16) through (18), respectively;
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(2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the fol-
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lowing:
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‘‘(15) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of
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the several States of the United States, the District
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of Columbia, and each territory or possession of the
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United States.’’;
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(3) by amending paragraph (18), as redesig-
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nated—
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(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (G)
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and (H) as subparagraphs (H) and (I), respec-
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tively; and
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(B) by inserting after subparagraph (F)
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the following:
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‘‘(G) activities to map, track, dismantle,
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and disrupt the financial networks of drug traf-
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ficking organizations, transnational criminal or-
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ganizations, and money laundering organiza-
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tions involved in the manufacture and traf-
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•HR 920 IH
ficking of drugs in the United States and in
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foreign countries;’’; and
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(4) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(19) UNITED
STATES.—The term ‘United
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States’, when used in a geographical sense, means
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all of the States, the District of Columbia, and the
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territories and possessions of the United States, and
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any waters within the jurisdiction of the United
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States.’’.
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(b) REQUIREMENT FOR CARIBBEAN BORDER COUN-
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TERNARCOTICS STRATEGY.—Section 706(c)(3) of the Of-
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fice of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act
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of 1998 (21 U.S.C. 1705(c)(3)) is amended by adding at
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the end the following:
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‘‘(D) REQUIREMENT FOR CARIBBEAN BOR-
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DER COUNTERNARCOTICS STRATEGY.—
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‘‘(i) PURPOSES.—The Caribbean Bor-
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der Counternarcotics Strategy shall—
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‘‘(I) set forth the strategy of the
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Federal Government for preventing
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the illegal trafficking of drugs through
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the Caribbean region into the United
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States, including through ports of
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entry, between ports of entry, and
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across air and maritime approaches;
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•HR 920 IH
‘‘(II) state the specific roles and
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responsibilities of each relevant Na-
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tional Drug Control Program agency
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for implementing the strategy;
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‘‘(III) identify the specific re-
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sources required to enable the relevant
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National Drug Control Program agen-
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cies to implement the strategy; and
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‘‘(IV) be designed to promote,
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and not hinder, legitimate trade and
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travel.
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‘‘(ii) SPECIFIC CONTENT RELATED TO
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PUERTO RICO AND THE UNITED STATES
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VIRGIN ISLANDS.—The Caribbean Border
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Counternarcotics Strategy shall include—
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‘‘(I) a strategy to prevent the il-
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legal trafficking of drugs to or
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through Puerto Rico and the United
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States Virgin Islands, including meas-
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ures to substantially reduce drug-re-
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lated violent crime on such islands;
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and
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‘‘(II) recommendations for addi-
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tional assistance or authorities, if any,
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needed by Federal, State, and local
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•HR 920 IH
law enforcement agencies relating to
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the strategy, including an evaluation
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of Federal technical and financial as-
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sistance, infrastructure capacity build-
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ing, and interoperability deficiencies.’’.
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Æ
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