Laredo Times

Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a member of the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Defense, secured support for security cooperation with Mexico in the FY 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill. The legislation will help counter drug smuggling and cartel-related activities.

Specifically, Congressman Cuellar secured:

•    $32,000,000 in federal funding to support additional training between the U.S. and Mexican militaries and the transfer of important surveillance and special operations technology from the U.S. to Mexico;

•    Establishment of an Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program for Mexico to improve its ability to combat drug smuggling and cartel activities by uniting government and military experts from the U.S. and Mexico to enact reforms within the Mexican government; and,

•    Nearly $300,000,000 for technology that, among other military and security purposes, can be utilized to track illicit drugs coming across the U.S.-Mexico border, including space-based sensors that can track the movement of illegal smuggling activities and technology to quickly and reliably detect smuggling tunnels.

“Reducing the flow of illegal and deadly drugs into the United States is a security imperative, but this is not an effort that we should pursue alone. We must continue to work with Mexico to help our southern neighbor improve their own security situation. A safe and secure Mexico is in the best interest of both the United States and Mexico,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The support I secured in the FY24 Defense Appropriations bill will help counter drug smuggling and cartels, combat Chinese and Russian influence in Mexico, and strengthen defense cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican militaries. Thank you to House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert and Ranking Member Betty McCollum for working with me to deliver these important investments in our national security, and for facilitating ongoing security cooperation with Mexico.”

To view a copy of Congressman Cuellar’s language, click here.

Original source can be found here.