H.R. 1238House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:45 AM UTC

The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025 would let the President issue letters of marque and reprisal against individuals or groups tied to drug or criminal cartels that commit aggressive acts against the United States. It would permit privately armed persons or companies, under presidential direction, to capture those cartel members and their property outside U.S. borders. The bill also sets a security‑bond requirement and defines what counts as a "cartel" for these purposes.

Key Provisions

Authorizes the President to commission private armed individuals or entities, via letters of marque and reprisal, to seize the person and property of cartel members or conspirators who have acted against the United States, even outside U.S. territory.
Requires any issued letter of marque and reprisal to be backed by a security bond, the amount of which the President determines is sufficient to ensure compliance with the letter’s terms.
Defines "cartel" as an organization listed in a specific executive order (Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations) or as a "transnational criminal organization" under existing U.S. law.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

February 12, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 12, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

February 12, 2025

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1238 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Mark B. MessmerR-IN-8 · Jul 22, 2026

Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 1238 and H.R. 9535.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 12, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1238

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 12, 2025

Mr. Burchett (for himself and Mr. Messmer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

A BILL

To authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to acts of aggression against the United States by a member of a cartel, or a member of a cartel-linked organization, or any conspirator associated with a cartel, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025.

Findings

The Congress finds the following:

(1)

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants the Congress the power to grant letters of marque and reprisal to punish, deter, and prevent the acts of aggression and depredations and other acts of war committed by cartel conspirators.

(2)

Cartels present an unusual and extraordinary threat to national security and foreign policy of the United States.

Issuance of letters of marque and reprisal

(a)

Authority of President

The President of the United States is authorized and requested to commission, under officially issued letters of marque and reprisal, so many of privately armed and equipped persons and entities as, in the judgment of the President, the service may require, with suitable instructions to the leaders thereof, to employ all means reasonably necessary to seize outside the geographic boundaries of the United States and its territories the person and property of any individual who the President determines is a member of a cartel, a member of a cartel-linked organization, or a conspirator associated with a cartel or a cartel-linked organization, who is responsible for an act of aggression against the United States.

(b)

Security Bonds

No letter of marque and reprisal shall be issued by the President without requiring the posting of a security bond in such amount as the President shall determine is sufficient to ensure that the letter be executed according to the terms and conditions thereof.

(c)

Definition of cartel

In this section, the term cartel means an organization that—

(1)

is described in section 1 of the executive order titled Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists and dated January 20, 2025; or

(2)

is a transnational criminal organization under the meaning given that term in section 3003(5) of the Public Law 118–50 (21 U.S.C. 2341(5)).