Bill Summary
The "No More Narcos Act" is a proposed piece of legislation aimed at protecting minors from being recruited by cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The Act mandates the establishment of an informational campaign and a national strategy to educate middle and high school students, particularly those living within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, about the risks associated with involvement in illegal activities related to these organizations.
Key components of the legislation include:
1. **Informational Campaign**: The Attorney General, through the Drug Enforcement Administration, is required to launch an educational campaign to inform students about the dangers of working with cartels.
2. **National Strategy**: The Secretary of Homeland Security is tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to address and combat the recruitment of minors by these organizations for illegal activities, including smuggling and trafficking.
3. **Funding**: The Act also includes amendments to the Department of Justice's asset forfeiture fund to allocate resources for the educational campaign and national strategy.
Overall, the No More Narcos Act seeks to prevent minors from becoming involved with criminal enterprises by raising awareness and providing targeted interventions.
Possible Impacts
The "No More Narcos Act" aims to prevent minors from engaging with cartels and transnational criminal organizations through education and strategic initiatives. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Increased Awareness and Education for Minors**: The informational campaign established under this Act would provide targeted education to middle and high school students, particularly in communities near the U.S.-Mexico border. This could lead to a more informed youth population that understands the risks and consequences of involvement with criminal organizations, potentially reducing the likelihood of recruitment by cartels.
2. **Community Empowerment and Engagement**: By involving local, state, and tribal agencies in the national strategy, the Act encourages communities to take part in combating the influence of cartels. This could foster a sense of collective responsibility and enable communities to develop localized support systems, resources, and programs to protect minors and provide them with positive alternatives to involvement in criminal activities.
3. **Resource Allocation for Prevention Efforts**: The amendment to the DOJ Assets Forfeiture Fund allows for financial support of the educational campaign and national strategy. This could result in better funding for schools and community organizations to implement prevention programs, outreach efforts, and activities that promote resilience among youth, ultimately contributing to a decrease in youth criminality linked to cartels.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4471 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4471
To establish and implement an informational campaign and national
strategy to prevent minors from working with cartels and transnational
criminal organizations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 16, 2025
Mr. Vasquez (for himself and Mr. Ciscomani) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish and implement an informational campaign and national
strategy to prevent minors from working with cartels and transnational
criminal organizations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No More Narcos Act''.
SEC. 2. INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGN AND NATIONAL STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Administrator of
the Drug Enforcement Administration and in consultation with the
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Education, the
Director of National Drug Control Policy, and such other Federal,
State, local, or tribal agency as may be appropriate, shall establish
and implement an informational campaign to educate covered students on
the dangers and risks of working with cartels or other transnational
criminal organizations.
(b) National Strategy.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
establish and implement a national strategy to combat cartels and other
transnational criminal organizations targeting and recruiting minors in
the United States to engage in unlawful smuggling or trafficking
activities.
(c) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Covered student.--The term ``covered student'' means
students in middle grades and high school in United States
communities 100 miles or less from the United States-Mexico
border.
(2) High school.--The term ``high school'' has the meaning
given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(3) Middle grades.--The term ``middle grades'' has the
meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) Minor.--The term ``minor'' means an individual who has
not attained 18 years of age.
(5) Transnational criminal organizations.--The term
``transnational criminal organization'' means self-perpetuating
associations of individuals who--
(A) operate transnationally for the purpose of
obtaining power, influence, monetary or commercial
gains, wholly or in part by illegal means, while
protecting their illegal activities through--
(i) a pattern of corruption or violence; or
(ii) a transnational organizational
structure and the exploitation of transnational
commerce or communication mechanisms.
Transnational criminal organizations; and
(B) engage in a broad range of criminal activities,
including drug and weapons trafficking, migrant
smuggling, human trafficking, cybercrime, intellectual
property theft, money laundering, wildlife and timber
trafficking, illegal fishing, and illegal mining.
SEC. 3. DOJ ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND.
Section 524(c)(1) of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (J)(ii), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
``(K) payments for--
``(i) the informational campaign to educate
students on the dangers and risks of working
with cartels or other transnational criminal
organizations under the No More Narcos Act; and
``(ii) the national strategy to combat
cartels and other transnational criminal
organizations targeting and recruiting minors
in the United States to engage in unlawful
smuggling or trafficking activities under such
Act.''.
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