IA
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. J. RES. 81
Authorizing the use of military force against certain Mexican cartels.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH24, 2025
Mr. S
TEUBEsubmitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
JOINT RESOLUTION
Authorizing the use of military force against certain Mexican
cartels.
Whereas Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS–13),
Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Northeast
Cartel, Michoaca´n family, the United cartels, Cartel del
Golfo, and Clan del Golfo have engaged in and permitted
the occurrence of terrorism, outrages upon personal dig-
nity, and the extrajudicial execution of innocent peoples
in the United States;
Whereas such cartels have violated the territorial integrity of
the United States;
Whereas such cartels have enabled the entry of terrorists into
the United States, a serious violation upon the sov-
ereignty of the American people;
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Whereas such cartels have smuggled cocaine, fentanyl, heroin,
methamphetamine, and other illicit drugs into the United
States;
Whereas the opioid overdose epidemic has resulted in the
deaths of millions of Americans, including an average
yearly death rate of more than 110,000 per year at the
height of the Biden Administration;
Whereas such cartels have established human trafficking net-
works facilitating the sexual exploitation of children and
women;
Whereas the Government of Mexico has demonstrated an in-
ability and negligible willingness to dismantle such cartels
that have committed the most violent of atrocities upon
the American people;
Whereas the presence of such cartels poses a clear and evi-
dent danger to the United States;
Whereas, ensuring the territorial integrity, national sov-
ereignty, and protection of the American people against
all enemies, foreign and domestic, is of the utmost re-
sponsibilities entrusted upon the Armed Forces;
Whereas such responsibilities necessitate the elimination of
the aforementioned cartels’ operational capacity via the
application of military force; and
Whereas Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States
Constitution directs Congress to provide for the common
defense and general welfare of the United States: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives1
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
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SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION FOR THE USE OF MILITARY 1
FORCE. 2
(a) A
UTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY 3
F
ORCE.—The President is authorized to use the Armed 4
Forces of the United States as the President determines 5
necessary and appropriate against the covered cartels, any 6
forces directly coordinated or affiliated with any covered 7
cartel, and any successor organization or forces to any 8
such covered cartel. 9
(b) C
OVEREDCARTELDEFINED.—In this resolution, 10
the term ‘‘covered cartel’’ means the following: 11
(1) Tren de Aragua. 12
(2) Mara Salvatrucha (MS–13). 13
(3) Sinaloa Cartel. 14
(4) Jalisco New Generation Cartel. 15
(5) Northeast Cartel. 16
(6) Michoaca´n family. 17
(7) The United cartels. 18
(8) Cartel del Golfo. 19
(9) Clan del Golfo. 20
SEC. 2. COMPLIANCE WITH WAR POWERS RESOLUTION. 21
(a) S
PECIFICSTATUTORYAUTHORIZATION.—Con-22
sistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, 23
the Congress declares that this section is intended to con-24
stitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning 25
of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution. 26
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(b) APPLICABILITY OF OTHERREQUIREMENTS.— 1
Nothing in this joint resolution supersedes any require-2
ment of the War Powers Resolution. 3
Æ
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