[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2287-S2288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10--RELATIVE TO MEXICO
Mr. GRASSLEY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Con. Res. 10
Whereas Mexico is one of the major source countries for
narcotic and psychotropic drugs and other controlled
substances entering the United States;
Whereas Mexico is a major transit country for cocaine;
Whereas 70 percent to 80 percent of all foreign-grown
marijuana in the United States originates in Mexico;
Whereas criminal organizations in Mexico are involved in
smuggling across the United States border;
Whereas criminal organizations in Mexico are engaged in the
routine corruption of Mexican officials;
Whereas Mexico has not taken adequate steps to prevent or
punish bribery and other forms of corruption;
Whereas Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo has stated his
commitment to ``create a nation of law,'' combat drug
trafficking, investigate assassinations, and punish official
corruption at all levels;
Whereas Mexico has not taken adequate steps to arrest or
extradite major drug cartel leaders;
Whereas the continued, large-scale transportation of
narcotic and psychotropic drugs and other controlled
substances from Mexico to the United States is detrimental to
the vital national interests of the United States;
Whereas the Government of Mexico has not taken sufficient
steps to control its borders against airborne and seaborne
smuggling or to implement a promise by President Ernesto
Zedillo to develop a radar network along Mexico's border and
to take adequate steps to arrest or extradite major drug
cartel leaders; and
Whereas the President determined and reported to Congress
pursuant to section 490(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291j(b)) that Mexico had taken sufficient
steps to combat international narcotics trafficking: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the
President should not certify Mexico pursuant to section
490(b)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C.
2291j(b)(1)) on March 1, 1998, unless the Government of
Mexico demonstrates clear progress in the following matters:
(1) Taking steps to develop and deploy a southern tier of
radars to monitor aircraft flying into Mexico and to deploy
interception capability to close the air bridge into Mexico.
(2) Arresting or extraditing major drug trafficking
kingpins and taking adequate steps to disrupt the operations
of major criminal organizations operating in and through
Mexico.
(3) Taking adequate steps to stop the corruption of Mexican
officials at all levels of government and investigating
accusations against State governors and public officials.
(4) Taking swift action to implement recent money-
laundering and anti-crime legislation.
(5) Permitting United States law enforcement officials on
the United States-Mexico border to cross the border with
their weapons and reaching agreement to allow United States
law enforcement personnel to continue into Mexico while in
``hot pursuit'' of suspects.
(7) Reaching an agreement to allow refueling for maritime
and air interdiction assets.
(8) Reaching an agreement to permit adequate cooperation
with United States law enforcement personnel for intercepting
maritime smugglers.
(9) Developing and implementing measures to control and
monitor maritime smuggling through major ports and container
facilities.
(10) Deploying and using vetted units of specially selected
and trained law enforcement personnel to disrupt drug
trafficking organizations.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy
of this concurrent resolution to the President.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, there is no dispute that a lot of drugs
reach this country through Mexico. Not we, not the administration, not
Mexico challenge this fact. Just as clearly, we must be concerned about
this traffic in illegal drugs. We must be concerned for what this
poisonous trade is doing to our country and to our kids. We must be
concerned for what the drug money that results from this trade is doing
to build criminal empires able to challenge and corrupt whole
countries. For these reasons, the United States and Mexico have a
shared interest in stopping an illegal trade that is so damaging to
both our peoples and our institutions.
Mexico acknowledges its responsibility to help in combating the
production and transit of illegal drugs. The production and transit of
these drugs are illegal under Mexican law. Mexico is a party to a
variety of international agreements to stop these practices. It also
has bilateral agreements with the United States to the same effect.
Thus, by solemn agreement, Mexico, along with most others countries, is
committed in principle and practice to taking effective action to stop
illegal drug production and transit.
The United States has a long and deeply intertwined relationship with
Mexico, a relationship that is very important to both countries.
Whether for good or ill, we are linked to Mexico and Mexico to us.
Thus, we must be particularly thoughtful in how we treat that
relationship.
The resolution I am offering today does not amend the certification
process. It does not change the President's decision to certify
Mexico--today. What it does do is send a clear, strong message from
Congress that, while we have heard many promises, we have seen little
action. And actions--appropriate actions--are paramount. While a change
in the certification process may be necessary, doing so without taking
the time to hold hearings or look at the possible solutions is hasty.
We need to consider our next steps carefully.
There has been a lot of discussion in the last few days on what to do
about Mexico. The discussion has tended to go from conditions that
proposed to go too far, in my judgment, to approaches that do not go
far enough. Clearly, striking the right balance on this important issue
is not easy. In my view, however, we must lay down benchmarks with a
clear time frame for deciding what Congress regards as the minimum we
expect. After all that has been said and done in the last several days,
to do less falls shy of doing anything.
My resolution affords the Congress the time to make a reasoned
determination about what to do. It requires
[[Page S2288]]
the Administration to base its decision next March 1 on a specific set
of measurable benchmarks. In brief, my proposal requires progress on
nine specific issues. These include progress on establishing an
interdiction network of radars, progress on extradition, progress on
dealing with corruption, steps to resolve carry weapons, steps to reach
a maritime agreement, and steps to resolve refueling rights.
I believe that this approach and these measures give us the
reasonable terms of reference for how to proceed. This approach gives
us the opportunity and time to develop the cooperation on the drug
issue that I believe we all want.
This resolution outlines both the concerns that have been expressed
by Congress and what we expect Mexico to accomplish before March 1,
1998. Not rhetoric, but actions. We ought to proceed with care before
we take steps to fundamentally alter the United States-Mexican
relationship. But we must keep faith with our responsibilities to the
public.
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