House Approves Merida Initiative

(Washington D.C.)- Acting to prevent the escalating violence in Mexico and Central America from permeating into the United States, Congressman Brian Bilbray today joined a majority of his colleagues in the House of Representatives in support of an initiative that will help Mexico and other Central American nations take aim at drug cartels.

“Either we can go after these cartels in Ensenada or we can fight them in Escondido,” said Bilbray. “I’d prefer that we move now and take care of this problem south of the border. The drug wars in Mexico and in other regions have grown horrendously violent and their destructive ways must be quashed.”

As approved by the House today (311-106), the Merida Initiative will authorize $1.6 billion for a whole litany of equipment, training, and other assistance.  It will provide helicopters, surveillance equipment, computer infrastructure, expansion of intelligence databases, anti-corruption initiatives, human rights education and training, and anti-money laundering programs.

Over the weekend, Bilbray joined several of his House and Senate colleagues in Monterrey, Mexico for meetings to discuss the program with officials from Mexico. The Merida Initiative was announced by the United States and Mexico on October 22, 2007. It is named for the city in Mexico where President Bush, Mexican President Calderon and Nicaraguan President Ortega discussed regional security challenges.

According to the State Department, Mexico is a major foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the United States. In addition, 90 percent of all cocaine entering the U.S. comes through Mexico. Recently, rivalries between drug trafficking organizations have resulted in increased violence within Mexico, especially along the United States border.  Over the first five months in 2008, there were 1,300 drug-related killings in Mexico.

The Merida Initiative now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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