[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5918 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5918
To authorize the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces to combat
transnational organized crime and to reduce the availability of illicit
narcotics in the United States by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency
approach to enforcement, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 4, 2025
Mr. Morelle introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces to combat
transnational organized crime and to reduce the availability of illicit
narcotics in the United States by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency
approach to enforcement, and for other purposes.
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 ``Protect Law Enforcement Task Forces
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Established in 1982, the Organized Crime Drug
Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) has been the centerpiece of
the Attorney General's strategy to combat transnational
organized crime and to reduce the availability of illicit
narcotics in the Nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency
approach to enforcement through concentrated, coordinated,
long-term enterprise investigations of transnational organized
crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks.
(2) OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the
country with its own Executive Office and its accountability
for over 500 Federal prosecutors, 1,200 Federal agents, and
some 5,000 State and local police. The program has 9 regions
and 19 strike forces around the country to coordinate
investigations and prosecutions by bringing together Federal,
State, and local law enforcement for multi-jurisdictional
operations, while the OCDETF Fusion Center (OFC) leads on
intelligence sharing.
(3) OCDETF implements a nationwide strategy combining
priority targeting, coordination, intelligence sharing, and
directed resourcing to have the greatest impact disrupting and
dismantling command and control elements of criminal
organizations.
(4) OCDETF has one of the best returns on investment in
Federal law enforcement, as demonstrated by the following:
(A) In fiscal year 2022, OCDETF brought in $524
million in cash and property seizures and forfeitures.
(B) In fiscal year 2023, OCDETF brought in $423
million, almost offsetting its funding.
(5) Since OCDETF's inception, tens of thousands of arrests
have been made, and hundreds of tons of narcotics and billions
in currency, real property, and conveyances have all been
seized proving how, in its current structure, OCDETF is a
legitimate and effective initiative that has successfully
lowered crime in cities across the United States.
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--Beginning not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the
Director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, and in
coordination with other agencies of the Department of Justice,
including the Drug Enforcement Administration, shall structure the
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (in this section, referred
to as ``Task Forces'') to combat transnational organized crime and to
reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the United States by
using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to enforcement.
(b) Covered Agency.--For the purpose of subsection (a), the
following are covered agencies:
(1) Department of the Treasury.
(2) Department of Homeland Security.
(3) U.S. Postal Service.
(4) Department of Labor.
(5) Department of State.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the
Director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces,
in conjunction with the head of each covered agency, shall
submit a joint report on the successes of the Task Forces to--
(A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Classification and public release.--The report
submitted under paragraph (1) shall be--
(A) submitted in unclassified form, to the greatest
extent possible, with a classified annex only if
necessary; and
(B) in the case of the unclassified portion of the
report, posted on the public website of the Department
of Justice and each covered agency included in the Task
Forces.
(d) Sunset.--This Act shall have no force or effect after January
20, 2029.
(e) Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Described.--In
this Act, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces refers to the
task forces established by and under the direction of the Attorney
General and announced on October 14, 1982, in the Remarks Announcing
Federal Initiatives Against Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime.
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