Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) helped pass legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives today to bolster American efforts to fight back against transnational criminal organizations. These criminal organizations, like the Sinaloa Cartel operating in Arizona, threaten public safety and smuggle drugs, weapons, and humans across the border.

“We’re standing up to dangerous cartels and helping keep Arizona families safe,” said Congresswoman Sinema. “Criminal organizations like Sinaloa rely on complex international funding schemes. Our bill helps law enforcement choke off the financing these dangerous groups use to traffic in people, drugs, and violence.”

Sinema co-introduced H.R. 4768, the National Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal Organizations Act, with Republican Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08). The bill helps local law enforcement target the financing that supports international criminal organizations. Never before has the U.S. government undertaken a cohesive, national strategy to combat transnational criminal activity or the finances that fuel them.

Sinema’s bill passed the House as part of S. 488, the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act, a bipartisan package of House Financial Services Committee bills that earned broad support in the U.S. House. The package included two additional Sinema-backed measures, the Fostering Innovation Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act, which cut red tape and help Arizona small businesses grow and thrive.

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