Kelly, McCormick Lead Bipartisan Legislation Targeting Mexican Drug Cartels
Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) introduced the Mexico Security Assistance Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the State Department to develop a strategy to dismantle the Mexican drug cartels, ensuring U.S. security assistance is delivering the best return on investment for taxpayers.
“Every day, Arizonans see up close the consequences of illegal drug trafficking into the United States. Our relationship with Mexico and a shared security mission are critical to combat the cartels that produce these dangerous drugs,” said Kelly. “Our bipartisan bill will establish mission goals to effectively dismantle cartels and increase the capabilities of Mexico’s law enforcement, strengthening U.S. national security and protecting our communities.”
“For far too long, the Mexican drug cartels have poisoned communities in Pennsylvania and across the country with deadly fentanyl, killing more than 4,000 Pennsylvanians each year,” said McCormick. “We need a clear strategy to dismantle the cartels that has real accountability and metrics for success, so we know security cooperation is actually achieving results. I look forward to working with the Administration on this common-sense approach to saving American lives.”
The Mexican drug cartels are the leading driver of the fentanyl overdose crisis that has killed more than 300,000 Americans. In the 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assessed, “Together, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have caused the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. They dictate the flow of nearly all illicit drugs into the United States…[including] the relentless stream of illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine crossing the border.”
Specifically, the Mexico Security Assistance Accountability Act requires the following:
- The Department of State must develop a strategy for U.S. security assistance in Mexico to:
- Dismantle the transnational criminal networks that traffic illicit drugs into the United States;
- Increase the capacity of Mexico’s military, national guard, and police to meet the country’s security needs and secure Mexico’s northern and southern borders; and
- Enhance the institutional capacity of civilian law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to strengthen rule of law and combat impunity.
- The strategy must include priorities, milestones, and performance indicators to monitor and evaluate results of the strategy.
- Annual briefing requirement
Read the bill text here.
