Establishing the Select Committee to Defeat the Mexican Drug Cartels.
This measure is a House resolution that would establish a Special Select Committee in the House of Representatives called the Select Committee to Defeat the Mexican Drug Cartels. The committee would be a temporary, investigative body (not a lawmaking one) tasked with examining the operations and capabilities of Mexican drug cartels and the international networks that support them, as well as the efforts by the United States, Mexico, and other governments to counter them. Its work would culminate in public findings, policy recommendations, and legislative proposals routed to the relevant standing committees. The resolution sets up a 21-member panel (plus delegates or a resident commissioner) chaired by the Speaker, with representation from multiple major committees. It provides limited staff and funding authority, allows public hearings, and requires reporting milestones and public publication of its work. Importantly, the committee would not have authority to enact or amend law directly; instead, its recommendations would go to standing committees for possible legislative action.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and scope: Creates the Select Committee to Defeat the Mexican Drug Cartels in the House, a temporary investigative body focused on cartel operations, international networks, and related government efforts to defeat them. It may hold public hearings as part of its investigations.
- 2Composition and leadership: The committee may have up to 21 Members/Delegates/Resident Commissioner, designated by the Speaker, with at least one majority member from each of five specified committees (Appropriations, Judiciary, Homeland Security, Armed Services, Financial Services). The Speaker designates the chair, and vacancies are filled in the same way as initial appointments.
- 3Investigative but non-legislative: The committee has no legislative jurisdiction and cannot act on bills or resolutions. Its sole function is to investigate and make policy recommendations; any legislative proposals it develops must go to the relevant standing committees.
- 4Rules, staffing, and funding: The committee operates under Rules X and XI as applicable to a standing committee, with certain exceptions. It can request non-reimbursable detail of federal agency personnel and may receive staff from other House entities; its staff and funding are governed by House Administration rules.
- 5Reporting and publication deadlines: The committee must report its findings and policy recommendations to the House by December 31, 2026, with policy recommendations to standing committees by December 31, 2025. Legislative proposals must be submitted to the standing committees within 60 days after adoption by the Select Committee, and all reports must be published publicly in accessible formats within 30 days of completion (unclassified, with possible annexes).