II
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2867
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 15, 2008
Mr. Bingaman (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To authorize additional resources to identify and eliminate illicit sources of firearms smuggled into Mexico for use by violent drug trafficking organizations, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as
the Southwest Border Violence
Reduction Act of 2008
.
Project gunrunner
In general
The Attorney General shall dedicate and expand the resources provided for the Project Gunrunner initiative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals involved in the trafficking of firearms across the international border between the United States and Mexico.
Activities
In carrying out this section, the Attorney General shall—
assign additional agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the area of the United States adjacent to the international border between the United States and Mexico to support the expansion of Project Gunrunner teams;
establish not fewer than 1 Project Gunrunner team in each State along the international border between the United States and Mexico; and
coordinate with the heads of other relevant Federal law enforcement agencies and State and local law enforcement agencies to address firearms trafficking in a comprehensive manner.
Additional staff
The Attorney General may hire Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents for, and otherwise expend additional resources needed to adequately support, Project Gunrunner.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to carry out this section.
Enhanced international cooperation
In general
The Attorney General, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall—
assign agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the United States mission in Mexico, to work with Mexican law enforcement agencies in conducting investigations relating to firearms trafficking and other criminal enterprises;
provide the equipment and technological resources necessary to support investigations and to trace firearms recovered in Mexico; and
support the training of Mexican law enforcement officers in serial number restoration techniques, canine explosive detection, and antitrafficking tactics.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $9,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to carry out this section.