Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6028.

With our economy facing serious, mounting challenges, and Americans facing unprecedented energy prices, I cannot support sending money to Mexico and Central America to take up the fight on drug trafficking.

As Mexico currently profits from the sale of oil on the world market as gas prices continue to skyrocket, I seriously question why we would send their government any aid to fight this battle. Think about it: gas is so much less expensive in Mexico that border area citizens from this country are going there to fill up.

Our own borders remain porous, illegal immigration strains our economy, and Americans are vulnerable to terrorists slipping into our country: fighting Mexico's war on drugs, and essentially securing Mexico's southern border, should not be at the top of our list of priorities right now.

While sending aid to fight criminal behavior and drug trafficking abroad is laudable in theory, given the current economic hardships Americans face, I simply cannot support this bill.

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