S.Amdt. 6648

This amendment aims to expand and formalize how the United States addresses transnational crime through the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (the Bureau). It seeks to move beyond just narcotics control to a broader approach that includes citizen security, the rule of law, and the structural drivers of crime.

Key Changes and Additions:

• Strategic Planning: It requires the Secretary of State to create a 5-year strategic plan to expand anti-crime programming. This includes prioritizing programs like community violence prevention, anti-corruption, and land titling.

• Funding: It authorizes $100 million per year from fiscal year 2027 through 2031 to implement these activities.

• Public-Private Partnerships: The amendment encourages the use of partnerships and innovative financing to fight threats such as cyber-scam centers, fentanyl trafficking, and environmental crimes.

• Legal Definitions: It expands the definition of "anticrime purposes" to include grants for nongovernmental organizations and efforts to strengthen foreign justice institutions, such as police, judges, and correctional facilities.

• Accountability and Reporting: The amendment adds strict reporting requirements, including:

  • A public strategic plan that assesses threats by geographic region.
  • An annual program and budget accountability report that breaks down exactly where money is spent, who receives it (including contractors), and the results of those investments.
  • Detailed narratives on the top five recipient countries in each region, evaluating their political will and the risk of fraud or human rights issues.