A bill to authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to acts of aggression against the United States by a member of a cartel, or a member of a cartel-linked organization, or any conspirator associated with a cartel, and for other purposes.

Senate Bill

S. 3567

119th Congress

A bill to authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to acts of aggression against the United States by a member of a cartel, or a member of a cartel-linked organization, or any conspirator associated with a cartel, and for other purposes.

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 18, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Mike Lee

R - UT

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

International Affairs

Summary

This bill would authorize the use of 'letters of marque and reprisal' against drug cartels, a constitutional power allowing private individuals or companies to be authorized by Congress to take military action against foreign enemies. Essentially, it would permit privately contracted forces to conduct operations against cartel organizations, reviving a practice not used since the 19th century that allows non-military actors to carry out quasi-military missions with government authorization.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Introduced12/18/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

A bill to authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to acts of aggression against the United States by a member of a cartel, or a member of a cartel-linked organization, or any conspirator associated with a cartel, and for other purposes.

This bill would authorize the use of 'letters of marque and reprisal' against drug cartels, a constitutional power allowing private individuals or companies to be authorized by Congress to take military action against foreign enemies. Essentially, it would per

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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0 predictions

This bill would authorize the use of 'letters of marque and reprisal' against drug cartels, a constitutional power allowing private individuals or companies to be authorized by Congress to take military action against foreign enemies. Essentially, it would permit privately contracted forces to conduct operations against cartel organizations, reviving a practice not used since the 19th century that allows non-military actors to carry out quasi-military missions with government authorization.

Bill Number: 3567
Introduced: 12/18/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Policy Area: International Affairs

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: A bill to authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to acts of aggression against the United States by a member of a cartel, or a member of a cartel-linked organization, or any conspirator associated with a cartel, and for other purposes.
Bill Number: 3567
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced: 12/18/2025
Summary: This bill would authorize the use of 'letters of marque and reprisal' against drug cartels, a constitutional power allowing private individuals or companies to be authorized by Congress to take military action against foreign enemies. Essentially, it would permit privately contracted forces to condu

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would authorize the use of 'letters of marque and reprisal' against drug cartels, a constitutional power allowing private individuals or companies to be authorized by Congress to take military action against foreign enemies. Essentially, it would permit privately contracted forces to conduct operations against cartel organizations, reviving a practice not used since the 19th century that allows non-military actors to carry out quasi-military missions with government authorization.

Last updated: 3/3/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Revives the constitutional power of 'marque and reprisal' from Article I, Section 8, historically used to authorize private ships to attack enemy vessels, now applied to modern drug cartels
Would allow Congress to authorize private military contractors or individuals to conduct operations against cartel targets, creating an alternative to traditional military or law enforcement approaches
Represents an unconventional approach to combating transnational criminal organizations that operate primarily in Mexico and other Latin American countries
Raises significant questions about sovereignty, international law, and the privatization of what are traditionally government military and law enforcement functions
Currently has no cosponsors and faces uncertain prospects, as it would require navigating complex constitutional, diplomatic, and practical concerns

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily affect U.S. foreign relations with Mexico and other countries where cartels operate, potentially straining diplomatic ties by authorizing private military action on foreign soil. Americans living near the border and U.S. businesses operating in affected regions could see changes in security dynamics, though the practical implementation faces substantial legal and international hurdles. The authorization of private actors to conduct military-style operations represents a fundamental shift from traditional law enforcement and military approaches to the drug trade.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

International Affairs

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3567, 119th Congress (2025). "A bill to authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to acts of aggression against the United States by a member of a cartel, or a member of a cartel-linked organization, or any conspirator associated with a cartel, and for other purposes.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3567