As Reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee

133rd General Assembly

Regular Session Am. H. C. R. No. 10

2019-2020

Representatives Wiggam, Plummer

Cosponsors: Representatives Lang, Riedel, Antani, Becker, Vitale, Cross, Carruthers, Roemer, Manning, D., Smith, T., Butler, Grendell, Rogers, Blessing, Callender, Dean, Ghanbari, Ginter, Green, Greenspan, Hillyer, Holmes, A., Hood, Hoops, Jones, Koehler, Merrin, Miller, A., Patton, Perales, Romanchuk, Scherer, Seitz, Stein, Stoltzfus, Strahorn, Wilkin

Senators Eklund, Manning, Coley

A c o n c u r r e n t R E S O L U T I O N

To urge the federal government to designate certain drug cartels operating as foreign terrorist organizations.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE Senate CONCURRING):

WHEREAS, The border of the United States presents unique challenges and threats to the national security of the country; and

WHEREAS, Transnational criminal organizations, commonly known as drug cartels, control the majority of the flow of opioids, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine and these groups maintain territorial influence over large regions used for the cultivation, production, importation, and transportation of these illicit drugs into the United States and Ohio; and

WHEREAS, The drug cartels are also responsible for the proliferation of human trafficking in the United States, particularly in Ohio, as part and parcel of their drug trafficking operations; and

WHEREAS, The drug cartels currently conduct operations on United States soil in furtherance of drug trafficking and human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Abuse of opioids, including fentanyl, and human trafficking are identified as direct threats to the economy, well-being, and overall vitality of the state of Ohio, its citizens, and future generations; and

WHEREAS, Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189) authorizes the United States Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, to designate an organization as a foreign terrorist organization when certain criteria are met; and

WHEREAS, The drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated foreign terrorist organizations under Section 219, given that they are foreign in nature, they engage in or retain the capability and intent to engage in terrorism, and they threaten the security of United States nationals and the national defense, foreign relations, and economic interests of the United States; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 133rd General Assembly of the State of Ohio, respectfully urge the federal government to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, so that the government may use appropriate means to mitigate and eventually eliminate the operations of the cartels; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, to the President Pro Tempore and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, to Ohio's congressional delegation, and to the news media of Ohio.