Bill Text: FL S1222 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2020-03-14 - Died in Governmental Oversight and Accountability [S1222 Detail]

Download: Florida-2020-S1222-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2020                                    SM 1222
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       23-01784-20                                           20201222__
    1                           Senate Memorial                         
    2         A memorial to the Congress of the United States,
    3         urging the federal government to designate certain
    4         drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, the border of the United States presents unique
    7  challenges and threats to the national security of the country,
    8  and
    9         WHEREAS, transnational criminal organizations, commonly
   10  known as drug cartels, control the majority of the flow of
   11  opioids, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine into this country
   12  and this state and these groups maintain territorial influence
   13  over large regions used for the cultivation, production,
   14  importation, and transportation of these illicit drugs, and
   15         WHEREAS, drug cartels are also responsible for the
   16  proliferation of human trafficking in the United States,
   17  particularly in this state, as an integrated part of their drug
   18  trafficking operations, and
   19         WHEREAS, drug cartels currently conduct operations on
   20  United States soil in furtherance of drug trafficking and human
   21  trafficking, and
   22         WHEREAS, abuse of opioids, including fentanyl, and human
   23  trafficking are identified as direct threats to the economy,
   24  well-being, and overall vitality of this state and its
   25  residents, as well as future generations, and
   26         WHEREAS, section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
   27  authorizes the United States Secretary of State, in consultation
   28  with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, to
   29  designate an organization as a foreign terrorist organization
   30  when certain criteria are met, and
   31         WHEREAS, drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated
   32  foreign terrorist organizations, given that they are foreign in
   33  nature, engage in or retain the capability and intent to engage
   34  in terrorism, and threaten the security of United States
   35  nationals and the national defense, foreign relations, and the
   36  economic interests of the United States, NOW, THEREFORE,
   37  
   38  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   39  
   40         That the Florida Senate, respectfully urges the federal
   41  government to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist
   42  organizations so that it may use appropriate means to mitigate
   43  and, eventually, eliminate their operations.
   44         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State dispatch
   45  copies of this memorial to the President of the United States,
   46  the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the
   47  United States House of Representatives, and each member of the
   48  Florida delegation to the United States Congress.