HR 4300 105th Congress House International Affairs Africa (Sub-Saharan) Agricultural research Agriculture and Food Air bases Air force Aircraft Alternative crops American economic assistance American military assistance Americans employed in foreign countries Armed Forces and National Security Arms sales Authorization Bahamas Belize Boats and boating Bolivia Brazil California

Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act

Introduced: July 22, 1998 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 31 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Oct 21, 1998

See H.R.4328.

Sep 16, 1998

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 537. (consideration: CR H7819-7857)

Sep 16, 1998

Rule H. Res. 537 passed House.

Sep 16, 1998

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Sep 16, 1998

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sep 16, 1998

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 384 - 39 (Roll No. 442).

Sep 16, 1998

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 384 - 39 (Roll No. 442).

Sep 16, 1998

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

Sep 16, 1998

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

Sep 16, 1998

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4300.

Sep 16, 1998

The Chair announced that the unfinished business of the Committee was the postponed proceedings on the amendments debated earlier and that further proceedings will occur in the following order: McCollum of Florida, Reyes of Texas amendment to Traficant, Traficant of Ohio, and Waters of California.

Sep 16, 1998

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the completion of debate the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment by voice vote and announced that that noes had prevailed. Ms. Waters demanded a recorded vote pending the absence of a quorum. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 537, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the Waters amendment. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.

Sep 16, 1998

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the completion of debate the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment by voice vote and announced that that noes had prevailed. Mr. Reyes demanded a recorded vote pending the absence of a quorum. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 537, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the Reyes amendment to the Traficant amendment and the Traficant amendment. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.

Sep 16, 1998

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the completion of debate the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment by voice vote and announced that that ayes had prevailed. Mr. McCollum demanded a recorded vote pending the absence of a quorum. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 537, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the amendment and the point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.

Sep 16, 1998

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.

Sep 16, 1998

The Speaker designated the Honorable Gil Gutknecht to act as Chairman of the Committee.

Sep 16, 1998

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 537 and Rule XXIII.

Sep 16, 1998

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4300 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 1 pursuant to clause 6 of rule XXIII. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule for a period not to exceed three hours. Points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute for failure to comply with clause 7 of rule XVI are waived. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in ...

Sep 15, 1998

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 537 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4300 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 1 pursuant to clause 6 of rule XXIII. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule for a period not to exceed three hours. Points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute for failure to comply with clause 7 of rule XVI are waived. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in ...

Aug 19, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

Aug 3, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Aug 3, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Jul 30, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Jul 22, 1998

Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure

Jul 22, 1998

Referred to House National Security

Jul 22, 1998

Referred to House Judiciary

Jul 22, 1998

Referred to House Ways and Means

Jul 22, 1998

Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, National Security, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Jul 22, 1998

Referred to House International Relations

Jul 22, 1998

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1391-1393)

Jul 22, 1998

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 1

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Sep 16, 1998	House · vote #442	On Passage	Passed	384–39	See who voted →

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Enhanced Source and Transit Country Coverage

Title II: Enhanced Eradication and Interdiction Strategy in

Source Countries

Title III: Enhanced Alterative Crop Development Support in

Source Zone

Title IV: Enhanced International Law Enforcement Training

Title V: Enhanced Drug Transit and Source Zone Law

Enforcement Operations and Equipment

Title VI: Relationship to Other Laws

Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act - Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) reduce the supply of drugs and drug use through an enhanced drug interdiction effort in the major drug transit countries and a comprehensive supply country eradication and crop substitution program, because a commitment of increased resources in international drug interdiction efforts will create a balanced national drug control strategy among demand reduction, law enforcement, and international drug interdiction efforts; and (2) support policies and dedicate the resources necessary to reduce the flow of illegal drugs into the United States by not less than 80 percent by December 31, 2001.

Title I: Enhanced Source and Transit Country Coverage - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Defense (DOD) for the enhancement of air coverage and operation for drug source and transit countries.

(Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the enhancement of U.S. Coast Guard maritime coverage and operation in drug source and transit countries.

(Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOD for the enhancement of radar coverage in drug source and transit countries.

Title II: Enhanced Eradication and Interdiction Strategy in Source Countries - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of State and the DOD for the enhancement of drug- related eradication efforts in Colombia.

(Sec. 202) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for: (1) the Department of State for the establishment of a third drug interdiction site at Puerto Maldonado, Peru, to support air bridge and riverine missions for enhancement of drug-related eradication efforts there; and (2) the DOD for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, for enhancement of drug interdiction efforts in Peru for support of multinational riverine and small boat maintenance training programs in Iquitos, Peru. Directs the Secretary of Defense to study and report to the Congress on Peruvian counternarcotics air interdiction requirements.

(Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of State for enhancement of drug-related eradication efforts in Bolivia.

(Sec. 204) Directs the Secretary of State to purchase six Bell 212 high altitude helicopters designated for opium eradication programs in Mexican states of Guerrero, Jalisco, and Sinaloa, for enhancement of drug-related eradication efforts there. Makes this purchase mandate contingent on Mexico's agreement to approve full diplomatic immunity for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) personnel serving in Mexico with privileges granted to U.S. Government officials to carry weapons necessary for the performance of their duties. Authorizes appropriations.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) all U.S. law enforcement personnel serving in Mexico should be accorded the same status as diplomatic and consular personnel serving at U.S. posts in Mexico; and (2) all Mexican narcotics law enforcement personnel serving in the United States should be accorded the same diplomatic and consular status as DEA personnel serving in Mexico.

(Sec. 205) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for enhanced precursor chemical control projects.

(Sec. 206) Requires any individual serving as an assistant secretary of any Federal agency or department who has primary responsibility for international narcotics control and law enforcement (including the principal deputy of any such assistant) to have substantial professional qualifications in the fields of management and Federal law enforcement, or intelligence.

Declares that the DOD shall have sole responsibility in implementation and processing of counternarcotics foreign military sales requests (with the Department of State having a consultative role in such requests).

(Sec. 207) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the responsiveness and effectiveness of Department of State international narcotics assistance activities have been hampered due, in part, to the lack of law enforcement expertise by responsible Department of State personnel.

Requires the Director of National Drug Control Policy to report to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) the responsiveness and effectiveness of such activities; and (2) the feasibility costs and steps needed to achieve a transfer of the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to the DEA. Authorizes appropriations.

Title III: Enhanced Alternative Crop Development Support in Source Zone - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) for certain alternative crop development programs in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.

Title IV: Enhanced International Law Enforcement Training - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of Justice for the establishment and operation of international law enforcement academies to carry out law enforcement training activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, Thailand, and South Africa.

(Sec. 401) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOT and the Department of the Treasury for the joint establishment, operation, and maintenance in San Juan, Puerto Rico, of a center for training law enforcement personnel of countries located in Latin America and the Caribbean in matters relating to maritime law enforcement (including customs-related ports management matters).

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOT for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of maritime training vessels.

(Sec. 402) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of Justice for: (1) substantial exchanges for Mexican judges, prosecutors, and police; and (2) enhanced support for the Brazilian Federal Police Training Center.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOD for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, for locating and operating Coast Guard and Navy assets so as to strengthen the capability of the Coast Guard of Panama to patrol the Atlantic and Pacific coasts for drug enforcement and interdiction activities. Makes members of the national police of Panama eligible to receive training through the International Military Education Training (IMET) program.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOD for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, for support for the Venezuelan Joint National Guard and Judicial Technical Police Counterdrug Intelligence Center.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOT and the Department of the Treasury for the buildup of local coast guard and port control in: (1) Guayaquil and Esmeraldas, Ecuador; (2) Haiti and the Dominican Republic; and (3) Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (Central America).

(Sec. 403) Authorizes the DEA Administrator to transfer or lease a specified amount of nonlethal equipment to foreign law enforcement organizations for the purpose of establishing and carrying out cooperative illicit narcotics control activities.

Title V: Enhanced Drug Transit and Source Zone Law Enforcement Operations and Equipment - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DEA, the DOT, the DOD, and the Department of the Treasury for enhancement of counternarcotics operations in drug transit and source countries.

(Sec. 501) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of State for the deployment of commercial unclassified intelligence and imaging data and a Passive Coherent Location System for counternarcotics and interdiction purposes in the Western Hemisphere.

(Sec. 502) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Defense should revise the DOD's Global Military Force Policy in order to: (1) treat the international drug interdiction and counter- drug activities of the DOD as a military operation other than war (thus elevating its priority to just below that for war); and (2) allocate DOD assets to drug interdiction and counter-drug activities in accordance with such priority.

Title VI: Relationship to Other Laws - Declares that funds authorized to be appropriated for any Federal department or agency for FY 1999 through 2001 are in addition to funds authorized to be appropriated for that department or agency for those fiscal years by any other provision of law.

What's happening now October 21, 1998

See H.R.4328.

Committees of jurisdiction 10