Establishing the Select Committee to Defeat the Mexican Drug Cartels.

Bill Number

H.Res. 262

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Last Updated

2025-05-01T08:05:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution establishes a temporary Select Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives focused on investigating Mexican drug cartels. The goal is to examine their operations, supporting international networks, and efforts by the U.S., Mexico, and other governments to combat them, ultimately providing policy recommendations and legislative proposals to address the issue.

Key Provisions

• Establishment and Composition:
• Creates the "Select Committee to Defeat the Mexican Drug Cartels" with up to 21 members (including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner), appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• At least 10 members appointed after consulting the minority leader to ensure bipartisan input.
• Includes at least one majority member from each of: Appropriations, Judiciary, Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Financial Services committees.
• The Speaker designates the chair; vacancies filled similarly to initial appointments.
• Allows the Speaker and minority leader to designate staff for support, with access to meetings and materials under security rules.

• Jurisdiction and Functions:
• No legislative authority; solely investigative.
• Investigates cartel operations, enabling networks, and government counter-efforts (U.S., Mexican, and international).
• May hold public hearings at its discretion.

• Procedures:
• Follows House rules (e.g., Rules X and XI) similar to standing committees, with exceptions like no limits on member service from other committees and specific intelligence committee protections for certain proceedings.
• Treated as a House committee for legal and procedural purposes.

• Staff, Resources, and Operations:
• Staff hiring and pay regulated by the House Administration Committee.
• Can borrow staff from House entities or request non-reimbursed details from federal agencies.
• Consultants approved by the Speaker, following relevant laws.

• Reporting and Publication:
• Submits investigation results, findings, policy recommendations, and legislative proposals to the House or relevant committees.
• Full reports due by December 31, 2026; policy recommendations to standing committees by December 31, 2025; legislative proposals to committees within 60 days of adoption.
• Reports made public in accessible formats within 30 days of completion; issued unclassified but may include classified or law enforcement-sensitive annexes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new, temporary select committee with targeted investigative powers, expanding House oversight on transnational drug threats without altering standing committee jurisdictions.
• Exempts service on this committee from usual limits on multiple committee assignments (under House Rule X), allowing broader expertise.
• Applies certain intelligence committee rules (e.g., for closed proceedings) to protect sensitive information, which is not standard for all select committees.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Could prompt increased coordination and resource allocation among U.S. agencies like Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense through recommendations; may require federal staff details, affecting agency workloads.
• Citizens: Aims to reduce drug cartel influence, potentially lowering drug-related crime, violence, and public health issues (e.g., fentanyl trafficking) in the U.S.
• International Relations: Investigations into Mexican cartels and U.S.-Mexico efforts might strain or strengthen bilateral ties, influencing cooperation on border security and anti-drug initiatives; could affect relations with other countries involved in cartel networks.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Congress: House members, especially from key committees (e.g., Homeland Security, Judiciary), gain a platform for oversight; impacts resource allocation for investigations.
• U.S. Government Agencies: Departments like Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense may provide input, staff, or face scrutiny/recommendations.
• Mexican Government and International Partners: Subject to investigation of joint efforts, potentially influencing diplomatic and enforcement collaborations.
• U.S. Citizens and Communities: Those impacted by drug trafficking, including border states and areas affected by addiction or cartel violence.
• Drug Cartels and Networks: Indirectly targeted through exposure and policy proposals, though not direct enforcement.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Grants standard congressional subpoena and hearing powers (via House rules), but limits to investigations only, avoiding overreach into executive functions; ensures compliance with classification and confidentiality laws for sensitive materials.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's oversight role under Article I (e.g., investigating executive branch activities on national security), but as a House-only resolution, it lacks Senate involvement, limiting broader legislative impact without follow-up bills.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (multiple Republicans and one Democrat) suggests cross-party interest in border/drug issues; temporary nature (ending implicitly after 2026 reporting) makes it a focused, election-cycle tool rather than permanent structure, potentially influencing 2026 midterms or policy debates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]

Cosponsors (23)

Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21], Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2], Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1], Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4], Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
• 2025-03-27: Submitted in House
• 2025-03-27: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Establishing the Select Committee to Defeat the Mexican Drug Cartels. — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (6 pages)