[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S561-S562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 218--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE RELATIVE TO 
                                 MEXICO

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. D'Amato, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 218

       Whereas Mexico is one of the most significant source 
     countries for the transport of narcotic and psychotropic 
     drugs and other controlled substances into the United States;
       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that 
     at least 75 percent of all cocaine available in the United 
     States travels through Mexico;
       Whereas various United States drug enforcement agencies 
     have estimated that 70 percent to 80 percent of all foreign-
     grown marijuana in the United States originates in Mexico;
       Whereas according to the United States Customs Service, 
     69.5 percent of the individuals arrested for drug smuggling 
     at border stations in the United States are Mexican 
     nationals;
       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration has stated that 
     drug smugglers have been flying airplanes into Mexico 
     carrying 10 to 20 tons of cocaine per flight, which airplanes 
     then return to Colombia carrying $20,000,000 to $30,000,000 
     of United States currency;
       Whereas Mexico has failed to prevent or punish the 
     laundering of drug-related profits or drug-related moneys in 
     Mexico;
       Whereas Mexico has failed to prevent or punish adequately 
     bribery and other forms of public corruption which facilitate 
     the production, processing, and shipment of narcotic and 
     psychotropic drugs and other controlled substances into the 
     United States or 

[[Page S562]]
     which discourage the investigation and prosecution of such activities;
       Whereas the continued, large-scale transportation of 
     narcotic and psychotropic drugs and other controlled 
     substances from Mexico into the United States is very 
     detrimental to the vital interests of the United States;
       Whereas not later than March 1, 1996, the President must 
     determine and report to Congress pursuant to section 490A(b) 
     of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291k(b)) 
     whether Mexico has taken sufficient steps to combat 
     international narcotics trafficking: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the President should not make the following 
     certifications pursuant to section 490A(b)(1) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291k(b)(1)):
       (1) That Mexico has cooperated fully with United States in 
     controlling narcotic and psychotropic drugs and other 
     controlled substances, and activities relating to such drugs 
     and substances, as set forth in subparagraph (A) of that 
     section.
       (2) That vital national interests of the United States 
     require United States assistance to Mexico or multilateral 
     development bank assistance for Mexico.

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