Federal Government Needs Strategy to Combat Drug Cartels on Federal Lands (July 2010) PDF Print
This week I introduced a resolution calling on the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to develop a coordinated strategy to permanently dismantle Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating on federal lands.  Earlier this year I arranged a meetingbetween the ONDCP, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Department of Homeland Security to discuss strategies to combat this serious problem.  You can see video of the speech I gave on the House floor here – and read the full text below.

“Madam Speaker, the federal government must do more to dismantle Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating marijuana plantations on our nation’s federal lands, a severe and growing problem in the Northern California Congressional District I represent.  These traffickers pose a threat to the visitors of national parks and forests and local law enforcement, and the federal government is fundamentally responsible for addressing it. Today I am introducing a resolution that I hope will garner sufficient support to focus more attention and begin a process of greater cooperation and coordination among the agencies responsible for protecting our federal lands and the citizens who want to enjoy them.  It’s essential that we stay focused on addressing this important issue.”