This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It has been sent to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for review and is not yet scheduled for a vote. The bill is considered active as it continues to move through the initial steps of becoming law.
Legislative Progress
Senate
House
President
Law
Could go either way
The bill has support from both parties and addresses a clear security need, but it is currently in the early stages of the committee process.
How we got here
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
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Reintroduced
Reintroduced from S. 309 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
This bill requires the federal government to create a specific plan to stop illegal drugs from being smuggled through the Caribbean region into the United States. It covers drugs coming in through official ports, between ports, and by air or sea.
The strategy must include specific plans for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The goal is to provide these territories with more help to catch smugglers and reduce the amount of violent crime caused by the drug trade.
Federal agencies would be required to list exactly what tools, money, and staff they need to get the job done. It also forces different government groups to clearly define their roles so they can work together better without overlapping.
The bill expands how the government tracks drug cartels by focusing on their money. It calls for mapping and breaking up the financial networks that international criminal groups use to fund their illegal drug operations.
Law enforcement would be encouraged to use new technology and better communication systems. The bill also makes sure that these new security measures do not get in the way of legal travel or business trade in the region.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Feb 12, 2025Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act
Bill NumberS 548
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
