S. 548

119 S548 IS: Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act
 U.S. Senate
 2025-02-12
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 548  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 12, 2025   Mr. Scott of Florida  (for himself and  Mr. Padilla ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 to require a Caribbean border counternarcotics strategy, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act  .
2.
Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act
(a)
Definitions
Section 702 of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 ( 21 U.S.C. 1701 ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (17) as paragraphs (16) through (18), respectively;
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
(15)
State
The term  State  means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and each territory or possession of the United States.
 ;
(3)
by amending paragraph (18), as redesignated—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as subparagraphs (H) and (I), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:
(G)
activities to map, track, dismantle, and disrupt the financial networks of drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations involved in the manufacture and trafficking of drugs in the United States and in foreign countries;
 ; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(19)
United States
The term  United States , when used in a geographical sense, means all of the States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States, and any waters within the jurisdiction of the United States.
 .
(b)
Requirement for Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy
Section 706(c)(3) of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 ( 21 U.S.C. 1705(c)(3) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(D)
Requirement for caribbean border counternarcotics strategy
(i)
Purposes
The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy shall—
(I)
set forth the strategy of the Federal Government for preventing the illegal trafficking of drugs through the Caribbean region into the United States, including through ports of entry, between ports of entry, and across air and maritime approaches;
(II)
describe the specific roles and responsibilities of each relevant National Drug Control Program agency for implementing such strategy;
(III)
identify the specific resources required to enable the relevant National Drug Control Program agencies to implement such strategy; and
(IV)
be designed to promote, and not to hinder, legitimate trade and travel.
(ii)
Specific content related to Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands
The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy shall include—
(I)
a strategy to prevent the illegal trafficking of drugs to or through Puerto Rico or the United States Virgin Islands, including measures to substantially reduce drug-related violent crime on such islands; and
(II)
recommendations for additional assistance or authorities, if any, needed by Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies relating to the strategy, including an evaluation of Federal technical and financial assistance, infrastructure capacity building, and interoperability deficiencies.
 .