S 548 — Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act

Summary

Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act This bill provides statutory authority for the requirement for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to include a Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy in its National Drug Control Strategy. This strategy must include measures for preventing the illegal trafficking of drugs through the Caribbean region into the United States, including measures to combat drug trafficking and drug-related violent crime in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The bill also revises ONDCP's authorization to (1) add definitions for state and for United States to specify that its authorization includes U.S. territories and possessions, and (2) revise the definition for supply reduction to ensure that the National Drug Control Strategy includes efforts to disrupt the financial networks of drug trafficking organizations.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html February 12, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds requirements for a Caribbean border counternarcotics strategy and modifies definitions within the existing law.

• 21 U.S.C. 1701

  (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.

  Defines 'State' to include all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

• 21 U.S.C. 1701

  (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.

  Provides a geographical definition for the term 'United States'.

• 21 U.S.C. 1705(c)(3)

  (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; (IV) be designed to promote, and not to hinder, legitimate trade and travel.

  Establishes a new requirement for a Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy detailing federal actions against drug trafficking.

• 21 U.S.C. 1705(c)(3)

  (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; (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.

  Specifies content requirements for the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy related to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• 21 U.S.C. 1701

  (18) → (16)

  Redesignates existing definitions in the law to accommodate new definitions being added.

• 21 U.S.C. 1701

  (17) → (18)

  Redesignates existing definitions in the law to accommodate new definitions being added.

• 21 U.S.C. 1701

  (G) → (H)

  Redesignates existing subparagraphs to accommodate the insertion of new definitions.

• 21 U.S.C. 1701

  (H) → (I)

  Redesignates existing subparagraphs to accommodate the insertion of new definitions.

Action History

1. February 12, 2025

   Introduced in Senate

2. February 12, 2025

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

• Rick Scott · Primary
• Alex Padilla · Cosponsor

Subjects