Kelly, Cornyn Bill to Enhance U.S.-Mexico Counternarcotics Efforts Passes Senate

Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statements after the Counternarcotics Enhancement Act, which would require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit to Congress an action plan to enhance counternarcotics collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico, passed the Senate as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) included in the National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA):

"To win the fight against drug trafficking, the U.S. and Mexico have to work together against the cartels. This effort with Republicans and Democrats will make our country safer by keeping drugs off our streets through Intelligence Community engagement with the government of Mexico," said Kelly.

"One innocent life lost because of illicit narcotics smuggled into the U.S. by way of Mexico is one too many," said Cornyn. "This legislation would ensure our Intelligence Community leverages the U.S.-Mexico relationship to most effectively root out these silent killers and keep citizens in both countries safe."

Background:

The Counternarcotics Enhancement Act would require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit to the Congressional intelligence committees an action plan to enhance counternarcotics collaboration, coordination, and cooperation with the government of Mexico that includes the following information from leaders of the Intelligence Community (IC):

• A description and assessment of their relationship, if any, with any element of the government of Mexico, including an assessment of the counterintelligence risks of such relationship;
• A strategy to enhance counternarcotics cooperation and appropriate coordination with each element of the government of Mexico they have a direct relationship with;
• And recommendations and a description of the resources required to efficiently and effectively implement this strategy to further the national interest of the U.S.

Read the bill text here.