[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WITHHOLD MEXICAN GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATION

  (Mr. SHAW asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I will make this very simple. Mexico is not a 
reliable ally in the war on drugs. Continued and pervasive corruption 
of Mexican law enforcement, including its top antidrug official, make 
the choice clear. A nation with between $10 and $30 billion in annual 
drug trade, whose law enforcement and government officials are 
estimated to receive almost half a billion dollars a year in bribes and 
whose antidrug czar was in the employ of one of Mexico's most wanted 
drug lords, does not deserve our certification.
  Our Nation's young people are at risk. If we want to take a strong 
stand against drug use, then we must not certify a country with the 
kind of problems we are seeing in Mexico. We cannot close our eyes to 
the antics of Mexico's drug lords and the complicity of Mexican 
government officials just for the trade benefits.
  While Mexican President Zedillo's efforts are encouraging, we need to 
see some real results. The results will not be forthcoming until the 
President of Mexico can get the support of the rest of the government 
with him.
  Plain and simple: Certification can wait until then.

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