U.S. House approves Mérida Initiative funds to Mexico: another $248.5 million

Money to be applied in current fiscal year 2012

As I've reported in previous posts, the Obama administration has promised that by the end of this year, U.S. funding of the Mérida Initiative will have reached the $900 billion mark -- just over half of the package approved by Congress in 2008. The initiative is a 2007 agreement between the United States and Mexico which provides for U.S. training and equipping of Mexican military and police forces, as well as for intelligence gathering and sharing. The $1.6 billion price tag on this deal was given the green light by Congress at the urging of former president Bush, who negotiated it with Mexican president Calderón.

A large amount of hardware has already been delivered to Mexico, including armored vehicles, aircraft such as four Black Hawk helicopters and plenty of high tech equipment. In addition, over 50,000 Mexican law enforcement personnel have been trained in drug trafficking interdiction and counterinsurgency tactics, to confront Mexico's powerful cartels. The latter at times operate as virtual guerrilla armies, pushing Mexican forces to their limit.

Acting on a request by president Obama, the House of Representatives yesterday approved another $248.5 million to be applied to the Mérida Initiative. In addition, the House approved $33.5 million to be used for economic development projects in Mexico. The vote on both measures, which are part of the U.S. fiscal 2012 budget, was 296-121.

Update: In an unusual Saturday morning session, the U.S. Senate today approved the two appropriations by a vote of 67-32.