[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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