Prize if you did not write a book would you . Easterny night at 8 00 on cspans q1 day. President trump is holding a Border Security event today. We are planning coverage and will have it for two later on cspan. We are going to show you this weeks Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing with state department at officials on a Security Assistance to mexico. Members question the officials on how the u. S. Is working with the Mexican Government to combat trafficking by cartels. Humanitarian crises in the country and handling around cases of american citizens being killed in mexico. We are going to get started. The reason for the early hearing is we have votes and people go back to the district today. I want to make sure i got this hearing in. I will begin. Other members will be walking in as the hearing is progressing. Order. Aring will come to assessing u. S. Security assistance to mexico. We focus on evaluating the extent to which u. S. Assistance has been effective in has been effective in strengthening mexicos Justice Sectors combating crime and protecting human rights. Without objection, all numbers may have five days to to submit questions and materials for the record. Subject to limitation and the rules, i will make an Opening Statement and turn it over to the Ranking Member for his Opening Statement. Before i open with my statement, i want to thank everybody here that is early. It is miserable outside and i want to thank the witnesses for being here. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for the witnesses who are here today. In reading the news of the last few weeks, the shocking headlines from mexico have been impossible to escape. As young, i saw kids as six years old arming themselves to defend their families in a rural part of the state. As cartels have soughtas cartelt control over the area, the murder rate has doubled and the community has nearly shut down. Kids who should be in school are instead learning how to fire shotguns and ambush armored vehicles. Believemer teacher, i nothing is more sacred than the investment we make in our childrens future. It broke my heart to think that if these kids are being deprived of their right to learn and grow , free of the violence and fear. Happeningat what is is a microcosm of the broader trends we are seeing across mexico. Mexicos homicide rate has reached its highest level in decades. Targeted our tax against journalists, human rights defenders, and local Public Officials have continued at a rate higher than almost anywhere in the world. Report from the International Federation for journalists found that mexico is the deadliest country in the world for journalists. Journalists killings in 2019, 10 were in mexico. Murders, likets most homicides in mexico, are never solved. Robust u. S. Ated for assistance to help mexico strengthen its democratic institution, combat corruption, defend human rights, and improve security. I believe that mexico and the United States have a shared responsibility to reduce Violent Crimes and improve quality of life for those living on both sides of our border. The United States must enact stricter gun laws, dedicate more resources to combating money anddering by the cartels increase investment in programs to reduce domestic demand for Illegal Drugs. A sincerepect commitment on the mexican side to reduce this violence. I appreciate the efforts that mexicos Security Forces are making, but they are being outgunned by these brazen at well resourced cartels. Society released a 953 policeing that officers had been murdered in mexico in just the past two years. I admire those courageous individuals who are putting their lives on the line. That substantial political commitment is needed to address the underlying andlem of impunity corruption, which are perpetuating the violence in mexico. Now is the time for the u. S. Government to look critically at our programs to determine what not. Rking and what is im eager to hear from the state department about our strategy and how congress can measure tangible progress on the initiatives. I hope that the Trump Administration is prioritizing security and our engagement with mexico, rather than pressuring mexico to use the National Guard to prevent desperate people from migrating. I know many of my colleagues share my frustration that we have not made more progress under the initiative. I hope this hearing will help us develop a clearer sense of what is next, what steps we should take. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the executive branch on a bipartisan basis to explore solutions to these difficult challenges. Thank you and i turn it over to the Ranking Member for his Opening Statement. A thank you for holding second hearing to follow up on this important and timely issue regarding the security situation in mexico. The relation with mexico is among the most important relationships for the United States. ,e are linked by geography proximity, as well as economic, historical, and cultural ties. The benton mexico impact our country. Recent years have brought violence, criminality, and a deteriorating security condition and mexico, which has been driven by the drug cartels. We cannot ignore the fact that the paper had the article about children. Cooperation is a critical component of our relationship and it is important that we review security conditions in our assistance programs to identify what has been effective at what has been ineffective in assisting the country to address its challenges. I am concerned that recent events have resulted in the deaths of nine u. S. Citizens, including three children, at the hands of drug cartels. These advents reflect the security challenges which mexico faces and a need for the United States and mexico to take steps together to address them. Through intimidation, corruption, and violence, the mexican people are terrorized daily. The administration is taking steps to have a National Guard take the lead on security. This force is supported immigration enforcement. Much work remains to properly train and equip them and questions remain about other steps of the Mexican Government can take to address the security challenges. Despite the efforts of previous administrations to combat the cartels and address security, 2019 saw a 30 increase in mexicos homicide rate. Much of which was driven by drugrelated crimes. The cartels expanded their drug trade to supply the surgeon u. S. Demand for methamphetamine, heroin, and opioids. I suggest anyone interested in this topic read the book dream land about the drug gangs. We must also acknowledge the flow of illegal weapons from the United States to mexico. Especially assault weapons and highpowered weapons which contribute to the violence along with the corruption, impunity, and lack of rule of law. States007, the united has provided 3 billion in Security Assistance to mexico. Mexico has also contributed more. Through 2018, Security Assistance has focused on the rule of law, anticorruption, and human rights. The Top Administration has added focus on attacking the financing of the cartels and combating the trade of opioid and synthetic drugs, which is a positive step. Yet the United States and mexico must continue to Work Together to improve security infrastructure and ensure Regional Security priorities are addressed. It is critical that the Mexican Government communicate to us what they are doing to address the problem and present a Security Strategy that assistance can support. The United States should explore ways to modernize the security continuee provided and intelligence hearings, and provision of technology and equipment. We should also review our coordination on the border about security where we can support mexicos efforts to carry out inspections and screenings. The security relationship has come a long way, but we must continue to build our relationship on a foundation of mutual trust and cooperation. This is a joint responsibility and serves the interests of both countries. Chairman, and officers for being here today. I look forward to hearing the testimony. Thank you very much Ranking Member rooney. Thank you very much Ranking Member. I will now introduce mr. Hugo rodrigues was a the deputy secretary of state who served career foreign as a Service Officer who most recently served as deputy chief and previously served at the us embassy and later as missions acting missions counselor for Foreign Affairs. We welcome you to the hearing. That really hear from the assistant secretary of state and bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement affairs. In his current role he oversees the office of anticrime programs and western hemisphere programs. He began his work with the i and l in 2011 as Deputy Director of initiative and mix custody and has served in ecuador and argentina. Mr. Glenn, thank you for joining us. Finally we will hear from ms. The barbara feinstein, the minister insistant her for the earth bro in latin america and the caribbean and that u. S. Aji program in mexico, Central America and the caribbean. Career member of the Senior Executive service, she was previously Deputy Assistant administrator for legislative and public affairs, and served as deputy chief of staff to administrator reggie shaw. Shah. And people minister eight or to alonzo and chief administrator to alonzo full him. Your statements will be made as part of the record. Mr. Rodriguez, we recognize you first for your testimony. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member rooney, distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for appear beforey to you today to discuss u. S. Bilateral security with mexico. I will think the u. S. Congress and this committee for its bipartisan strong support of the usmexico relationship in general merida and the and the Merida Initiative in particular. While the bilateral agenda in mexico covers a wide range of issues with commercial relationships and educational exchanges and efforts to create partnership Security Cooperation is only been a central element to be central partners in confronting the Transnational Criminal Organizations operating on both sides of usmexico border. These have engaged in unprecedented levels of violence unprecedented levels of violence and pose a fundamental challenge to mexico and its people also a major threat to the United States. We much take a compress approach to these tcos including the , targeting of their Business Model from production and trafficking of illicit drugs to finances of illicit revenue. This is critical to safety of all citizens the necessity of cooperation has made it clear with our horrific murders of nine citizens in sonora. And the failed operation october 2019 to attempt interest. These are in addition to the lives of Security Forces that continue to be los. T the trumpet ministration is committed to work with mexico to combat these organizations, u. S. Customs and Border Protection administration or perez and the acting secretary of state assistant sec. Of state for the joint have acted efforts and to increase collaboration more effectively for this threat. Transnational criminal organizations that traffic methamphetamine, fentanyl, colom bian cocaine to the United States to address these and the related threats United States and mexico partner through the Merida Initiative to improve security reduce drug production and enhance criminal prosecution and to build Public Confidence in the Justice Sector, reduce improve Border Security, reduce the migration flow to promote greater respect for human rights. U. S. Mexico secured corporation has been expanding since the merida was launched in 2008 and is based on the recognition and commitment to country shares responsibility for transnational for combating Transnational Criminal Networks from the crime and corruption generated. Initiative is founded on Mutual Respect reflecting the tremendous benefits derived from collaboration. Us assistance provided crucial support to the government in its efforts to build to capacity while enhancing cooperation between us and Mexican Governments with assistance and Technical Assistance, equipment and training also with greater cooperation between Law Enforcement agencies prosecutors and judges as they expand the shared capacity making the commitment to shock criminals and monday. Madedent Lopez Obrador has goal of Security Policy in his a key pledge to fight corruption advance efforts with the security challenges to develop a new bilateral structure mexico city High Level Working Group to under the umbrella of the hfs wg, we have jointly developed groups to tackle issues of the highest importance focus on drug policy, migration illicit finance cybersecurity arm Services Emergency response and Justice Sector and arms trafficking. Through these groups we identify priorities and specific actions to have progress in each area. For example to increase the joint efforts to increase drug interdiction and we also working to reduce the number of listed firearms, weapons and the ammunitions for crossing into the border. The continued threat by Transnational Criminal Organizations requires our continual support in our bilateral cooperation that must continue in the Merida Initiative provides a framework for the partnership to benefit americans and mexicans i will be happy to answer any questions that you have. Mr. Glenn we will now hear , your testimony. Chairman serious, Ranking Member rooney, distinguished members of the subcommittee thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss our efforts with mexico the mission of the department of States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement affairs is to keep americans safe by countering crime and Illegal Drugs and instability abroad. We provided assistance for the last 12 years under the Merida Initiative to build mexican interdiction Law Enforcement and prosecutorial capacity. Our assistance has two principal purposes first is to stop illicit drugs before they reach the United States and to improve mexican capacity to demand each component of Transnational Criminal OrganizationsBusiness Model, from Drug Trafficking to illicit proceeds and hold , accountable for their crimes. Despite the news drug overdoses are falling for the first time in 20 years more than 67000 americans died in 2018 many of which have come from mexico it is the source of the most heroin and methamphetamine consumed in the United States and is a major transit zone for cocaine and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Meanwhile they face their own epidemic with the homicide rate a record high of 29 per 1000. In 2019. Impunity is high and public trust in police is low. Organized crime erodes through rose institutions through corruption. Meanwhile the Mexican Government , continues to consolidate with major growing pains in the face of these challenges the Merida Initiative has better positions the u. S. Mexico cooperative to tackle corruption and security to build trust between us and mexican Law Enforcement. I