regional security initiative, and the colombian strategic development initiative, along with the merida initiative could altogether -- initiative. they altogether create an approach that addresses complex cross-border threats throughout the hemisphere. i look forward to hearing particularly from a good friend and pastor brownfield who could possibly speak about the possibility of regional partnerships, particularly when discussing columbia as a regional partner for many come -- countries. through my recent travels to the region, i heard firsthand the impact of u.s. assistance in a variety of sectors. aspects of u.s. security and assistance agreements that address the needs of vulnerable populations are particularly important. these populations are routinely exploited by criminal networks in complex. they are all too often the unheard victims of the lack of rule of law and diminish civil society and by building a u.s. engagement strategy that accounts for the integration of minorities and disenfranchised persons, united states can work with partner nations to lay the foundations for a safe and secu

congress has appropriated more than $1.9 billion of fiscal year 2012 toward the merida initiative. r its part, mexico has invested nearly $10 for every $1 committed by the u.s. as of september, 2012, mexico had invested over $10 billion toward the merida program. mexico, however, remains a major producer and supplier of illegal narcotics to the u.s. including heroin, meth, marijuana and cocaine. more than 60,000 deaths have resulted from drug-related crime and violence in mexico between 2006 and 2012. although more than that, indications of progress at times have been mixed. for instance, we have helped to train more than 7,500 federal and 19,000 state justice sector personnel. 4,000 of which are federal investigators that did not exist before. yet those suspected of involvement in organized crime can be held by authorities for up to 80 days without access to legal counsel. many inmates await trials as opposed to serving out the sentences. normally the u.s. agency of international development has concentrated most of its work in support of judicial reform at the state level. in term