Transcripts For CSPAN2 Secretary Of State Pompeo Testifies A

CSPAN2 Secretary Of State Pompeo Testifies At International Narcotics Control... July 14, 2024

[background noises] the Senate Caucus on narcotics control welcome to order. Good afternoon, everyone. I want to think secretary pompeo for being here today as well as members of the caucus. This is the first time weve had cabinet member address the drug caucus and theyve given the circumstances, we find ourselves in. This makes it especially appropriate from the nations top diplomat. The rising aquatics epidemic is inflicting the highest rate of casualties in our nations history. America alone in 2017 ordered 17000 people died of drug overdoses. 2006 mexico seen 1,150,000 people murdered in the course of the Cartel Violence associated with the market share and real estate and comes to the International Drug trade. Reflecting on those numbers, it bring me think about other efforts we undertake. Only the threat of terrorism emanating from afghanistan, the war in iraq and the idea that we would somehow lose 70000 americans in one year alone to drug overdoses is not consider this a matter of national emergency. Its really staggering. We hope to turn that around. In order to break this devastating cycle, we need to take a holistic government approach to address supply and demand as well as expand treatment for those suffering from substance abuse. Will focus on supply today International Sources of products in our nations strategy to prevent them from reaching our borders and infiltrating opportunities, the current affects of the products epidemic cannot say weve reached a crisis. 2018, National Reports for drug poison deaths remained the leading cause of injury and death in the u. S. Currently, as i said earlier, the highest level ever recorded 2013 members and outnumbered deaths from fire alarms, water vehicles, suicide and homicide. 2016, 174 americans died every day from drug overdoses. My home state of texas, we remain severely impacted in terms of the volume of trafficking and all related mayhem that accompanies that activity. Nearly 3000 texans died of drug overdoses. Half of those were related to opioids for the dramatic increase in synthetic opioid related deaths. The emergence of functional as a significant country better have skyrocketed over the last few years and has been subject to hearings of this caucus. I know efforts International Diplomats with china by the Trump Administration and by you, mr. Secretary. Drugs as well as the transnational and domestic criminal organizations track them, continue to threat to public health, Law Enforcement and National Security. The most of it focus on International Aquatics control is to expand cooperation against abuse and narcotics trafficking. I believe we need to have a conference of National Strategy that focuses on supply, which we were examining today and demand. Strategy must also take action against transnational organizations running rampant, engaging a broad range of criminal activities. The cartel, Generation Cartel and many others maintain a presence not only in Central America and mexico but also in my state of texas. They specialize moving fast amount of cocaine and heroin, fentanyl and other Illegal Drugs throughout the agent. Its not just drugs they are carrying. Commodity agnostic, traffic in drugs and migrants and human beings for sex slavery and counterfeit goods, you name it. Whatever will make make them a buck. In the face of all this, they are becoming richer and growing their infants in the u. S. And without intervention, their power will only grow. Because we cannot win this fight alone, our strategy needs to improve our Security Cooperation with International Partners. Particularly mexico. It must invest in Economic Security and promote a stronger, more stable Central America. Secretary pompeo and experts on our panel will shed light on the epidemic in our hemisphere across the globe. Look forward to hearing their testimony in learning how we can Work Together to form a comprehensive strategy that reduces illicit drugs into the u. S. And helps keep our citizens safe. I turn the microphone over to feinstein. Think it. This is the first hearing of our congress, i think its good news that youre here. I look forward to working with you as chairman. I also want to thank senator grassley for his tenure as chairman and welcome senator rosen and purdue. I think we all know the illicit drug trade in this country is really big business. Its valued at anywhere from 42. Reach is global. Its distribution is growing. Its leadership is criminal. Like any business, it adapts to market changes. In this case, u. S. Demand and International Enforcement are the two things and its motivation is power and process at any cost. In my state, california, our largest state, the cost was nearly 5000 lives. In the u. S. , our states, more than 70000 lives. Globally, the cost only increases. In 2015, the latest year for which data is available, excuse me, i cant get rid of this period was 4,150,000 lives. The estimates dont consider the lives lost due to private associated with this illicit trade. Both in the u. S. And source and transit countries. In 2019, this year, 22 countries have been identified as a major transit or source countries for illicit drugs. Profits came from narcotic production, fund dangerous cartels, Transnational Criminal Organization and mexico, china and countries in central and south america. The profit margin is only increasing. Last year, or than 133,000 pounds of heroin, cocaine, meth and now fentanyl where two grains is enough to kill an individual were seized in the u. S. This year, nearly 101,000 pounds of these substances have already been seized and we are just halfway to the here. Narcotics productions funds the insurgency in afghanistan, the Worlds Largest supplier of opioids. The u. S. Does not have a dedicated counter aquatics plan in this country. I think youre right, youve got to get cracking and build one that works. The drug trades have staggering level of violence and corruption. In mexico, its estimated that one third to one half of the 32000 murders committed in 2018 were related to drug track of picking and organized criminal activity. 21 of these cases went to trial. The former head of venezuelans the tight intelligence which recently arrested in spain, on Drug Trafficking charges. The global narcotics trade requires us to address both our own demand issue as well as foreign supply. The state department place a Critical Role in all of this. As it ordinate u. S. Foreign assistance for counter narcotics. Theres much to be done. I put my forward marks in the record but thank you so much for being willing to come today. Thank you. We are grateful for you being here today. You may proceed with any Opening Statement you would like to make. Thank you. Im happy, this is an important issue. This is untrue priority for us. Is happy to be invited here today. Ill be very reef, he shall know that like many of you, this is personal for me. I know many people have been impacted by this set of issues last month there were seven who died in a ten hour period. From a single overdose of cocaine laced with fentanyl. Its a serious matter. We all know human lives who have been touched and families ripped apart by this. The state department, u. S. Government agencies do, most manufactured in traffic, thats where our talents and skills and 15 comes to bear. A clear role here. Want to talk about what were doing, will dig in a little further. First, we focus on china because of the increase in fentanyl since the last two and half years in this administration. Purchased online often and delivered directors to the dealers. Not only the state department, ive been working closely with china, ive had numerous conversations with them on may 1. China fulfilled their pledge to control all attentional like substances, potentially the number in the thousands of different substances and develop a plan for each of them. We need to work closely with them. Im convinced they will do that. Im convinced they will shut down and save lives here in the u. S. Mexico remains our production, heroin in the country for cocaine and fennel and other drugs. Part of our conversation about what we touched deeply on, how we can look work more closely together. A good deal of the conversation was about the traffickers desire to move whatever product will bring a market price that causes them to continue to do things that disrupt so many lives. Well try to take down these enterprises between all elements in the u. S. Government. We donated equipment to the mexican Law Enforcement. We drink officers to eradicate poverty and drugs. We provide them specific docs and as you can see from the data today, many challenges remain. Just a couple of words about the rest of the semester. I met with president multiple times, both occasions, he continued his strong support to stop Drug Trafficking. Theres a lot of work left to do. We are working to get the direction, the magnitude of the problem to turn the corner, to begin to decrease production. Weve quadrupled the number of eradicate is. While the payoff has not yet demonstrated, over percent, 60 . As a host of other countries, im happy to take your questions. Thank you. It will be made part of the record without objection. Well start with six minutes rounds and the secretary has been very gracious with his time but we will make sure we get inandout of here. We have a second of witnesses and votes. We will be kind of busy. Let me start with this question that we talked about in the other room. As i think about u. S. Governments strategies and plans to deal with everything from traffickers to instability in south america, think of columbia, that was the one success story, even though as you point out your conversation to deal with the eradication issue, its very important. We need to see a reversal of the continued proliferation in columbia. Other things you think we can learn from columbia, that we can apply to a broader regional strategy works a Strong Partner like we had during the toughest parts and also having a bipartisan congressional support so it did not lapse with each president ial election. Share with us some of your general thoughts about that. For two very important things. We make sure we find the right areas. Then working through their agencies, not only are the u. S. On this, its often fragmented, trafficking. The local federal Law Enforcement officials. While there is no Silver Bullet, all evidence on the u. S. Side and other countries side working alongside of each other. I think those are the Building Blocks to deliver. But we were were successful with columbia as well, developing an offense that had duration to it. Meaning bipartisan support. We have a license here every couple of years. These problems would far past any particular congress. It does take a level of commitment for consistent resources and priorities inside of the u. S. Bureaucracy. So the opposite is put in place, ripped out, 180 degrees each time theres a change in leadership or congress. That is very helpful. In terms of our relationship with mexico, i also think about the mayor initiative, which i know we will hear about from the other witnesses. Some people will say we need to send more money to Central America. To me, that with the car in front of the horse. We need to have a plan and be able to tell the American People that yes, we are sending assistance to these countries that is targeted. We have a good way to follow the money and make sure is not being stolen and being used for the intended purposes. We have a plan in place and we can measure the success. One of the things that is discussed, the possibility special envoy for this region. Can tell us within the state department and the experience with the executive branch of government, to think Something Like a special envoy for this region would be something we should consider and continue discussions about . Teaming with respect to this issue, the path to handle this more probably . Yes. I have to think it through. Using the state department where we have had problems, identify someone to pin it on. Someone who had authority and responsibility connected to bring all elements of power together so that might make sense that each of the elements of the u. S. Government has a delivery, associate with the magic to describe. Would need to be on board with that. When be a state department, special envoy. Someone with the scope and capacity to demand all resources connected. If we could achieve that, it will make sense. I hope we can continue the conversation with you and other members of the administration about how to have a accomplished that, the best way to deal with that. I wonder, even though your negotiations, with the mexican work minister, conversations that youve had with the president , mainly focused on migration issue. Ive been struck as somebody, texas has a border with mexico, ive followed mexico for my entire career. Ive never seen mexican officials appear to step up and engage, it looks like they are doing now on the Central American migration issue. I wonder if you, on that. I think its real and if its enduring, it could be transformational in terms of our relationship, and only with mexico but dealing with all these issues in mexico and Central America. Can you give us your general thoughts about what changed and how do we get here . Ive been at this for two and half years. My previous role, connection to working on primary on the tcs. This is been involved in migration issue at least have a demonic level, working between the two countries to set up policies. The president the spectrum of the tariff. We had been able to make over the course of the preceding for almost a year and now. I think it focused the attention of all of us and made us more willing to set up deliverable, i am hopeful will deliver on the outcomes that i am convinced he wants in President Trumps wants. The legal migration which will have a secondary benefit of reducing capacity for these traffickers to move drugs, the topic of our gathering today. I think its something he may very clear to me and his team. And we will move through the northern triangle with the flow of illegal migration it is all about the execution but the wealth and capacity creation needed to take place were demonstrated last week. Migration and Drug Trafficking are the issues here talking about our relationships. But as Border Patrol has told us coming across the ports of entry customs and Border Protection and they have to be assigned different duties to take care of children and families and those used to exploit that chaos and uncertainty moving poison into the United States thank you for your response to that. Senator feinstein mister secretary, fy 1922 countries were majored drug producing countries located in south america as well as asia. Give it did the limited counter narcotics budget how can states help determine where to concentrate its efforts . Its an excellent question. We tried not only during each budget cycle we try to set priorities and try to find the place where we can find the most impact mindful that it is not measurable that there was bill the. To create capacity. You can look to that only to the budget request within those various tools not just the state department but cbt and monies requested for all other agencies involved how we think about approaching that. Honduras and el salvador and guatemala are few of the countries identified for illicit narcotics in the United States. In light of the president s recent decision how will the state department reduce the flow . I have been thinking we went to columbia several years ago it was a success the numbers are up at 10 billion now but we have problems in Central America and im wondering so in a planned Central America to provide the incentives to restore the coffee industry and with those cartels that is happening with those feeling they have no alternative. Has your department taken a look at this where Central America might be viable clicks. There is lots of work done so on the fy 70 funding we carved out two significant programs doj and dhs related to those what we are talking about. Because we thought they were important we have been at these programs for a long time and the charts that we show today demonstrate we have not gotten where we want to be perhaps thats the case we havent deliver the outcomes and with those northern triangle countries . Maybe they will conclude there is a different way and a different enforcement mechanism they can have that capacity for. Could you share that material with this caucus . But to think about this every day. That would be very helpful. And where to concentrate your efforts. So to talk about that assistance. And while it isnt new and those other sources of china and then when columbia was created you would have a different priority. And the bad guys move more quickly and not to have the right tools and that flexibility but if you just look at the loss of life or the impact that fentanyl is at the top of the list. And then to have a serious conversation and then to stop it at its source . And that even at those most senior levels that is most necessary in that task to execute that in the last several weeks with a commitment to work towards this so too

© 2025 Vimarsana