[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6945-H6950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2230
CONGRATULATING PEOPLE OF UNITED MEXICAN STATES ON SUCCESS OF DEMOCRATIC 
                     ELECTIONS HELD ON JULY 2, 2000

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 544) congratulating the people of the United 
Mexican States on the success of their democratic elections held on 
July 2, 2000.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 544

       Whereas the United States and Mexico have a long history of 
     close relations and share a wide range of interests;
       Whereas the people of the United States and the people of 
     Mexico have extensive cultural and historical ties that bind 
     together families and communities across national boundaries;
       Whereas a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Mexico is of 
     vital importance to the security of the United States;
       Whereas a close relationship between the United States and 
     Mexico, based on mutual respect and understanding, is 
     important to the people of both nations;
       Whereas Mexican leaders from across the political spectrum 
     and representatives of civil society recognized the need for 
     political and electoral reform and took important steps to 
     achieve these goals;
       Whereas on July 2, 2000, nearly two-thirds of all eligible 
     voters in Mexico participated in the national election;
       Whereas both domestic and international election observers 
     declared the July 2nd elections to be the fairest and most 
     transparent in Mexico's history;
       Whereas the election of Vincente Fox marks the first 
     transition in power at the presidential level in 71 years 
     from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), 
     completing Mexico's transition to a total multi-party 
     democratic system;
       Whereas Vincente Fox, the winning presidential candidate, 
     and Ernesto Zedillo, the current president, have both pledged 
     themselves to a peaceful and cooperative transition of power; 
     and
       Whereas this transparent, fair and democratic election 
     should be broadly commended: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the people and Government of the United 
     Mexican States for the

[[Page H6946]]

     successful completion of the democratic multiparty elections 
     for president and the legislature;
       (2) commends all the citizens and political parties of 
     Mexico for their participation in the democratic process and 
     their strong support for the strengthening of their 
     democracy;
       (3) congratulates President-elect Vincente Fox for his 
     election victory and his strong commitment to democracy and a 
     free-market oriented economy; and
       (4) reaffirms the United States friendship with the United 
     Mexican States and our unequivocal commitment to encouraging 
     democracy throughout Latin America.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Tancredo). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) and the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 544.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.Res. 544, which this Member, 
along with the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) and 26 
of our colleagues, introduced to commend the government and people of 
Mexico on their recent national elections.
  While Mexico, in fact, practiced democratic governments for the past 
several decades, the outcome of the July 2 presidential election ending 
71 years of dominance in the office of the presidency by the PRI party 
represents the most dramatic and historic change in leadership in 
modern Mexican history.
  In addition, this legislation was deemed by both domestic and 
international electoral monitors as the freest, fairest, and most 
transparent election in Mexican history; and the broad participation of 
nearly two-thirds of Mexico's eligible citizenry further evidences the 
noteworthy success of the election.
  Mr. Speaker, aside from this broad recognition of success of the 
recent election, I want to address one important aspect of this 
election. I believe it is important to recognize Mexico's current 
President Ernesto Zedillo for his critical role in initiating reforms 
which assured the transparent and democratic process witnessed in the 
recent election.
  Two years ago, Mexican leaders from across the political spectrum, 
led by President Zedillo and representatives of the civil society, 
recognized the need for political and electoral reform and took 
important steps to achieve these laudable goals.
  One of the reforms he initiated was the establishment of the 
Independent Federal Electoral Institute, which was to oversee the 
electoral process, thereby insulating the electoral administration from 
political influence.
  In addition, President Zedillo was instrumental in instituting a 
primary selection process for future presidential candidates within his 
own PRI party which has ruled Mexico since 1929. This primary process 
was a major accomplishment which helped to democratize the party 
itself.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, we should also recognize the diligent work of 
the National Action Party, or PAN, as well as the former political 
talent of President-elect Vicente Fox, which were also key factors in 
the July 2 electoral process.
  This vote for H.Res. 544 not only recognizes Mexico's successful 
election and congratulates President-elect Fox, but it hopefully ushers 
in a new chapter in U.S.-Mexican relations which I hope will further 
bind our nations through our shared aspirations in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
people of Mexico, members of civil society and the political parties 
for the dramatic process made over the past several years in bringing 
about this historic and laudable electoral success.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me first just take one moment to publicly thank 
Dennis McDonough for the great work he has done on the committee. 
Dennis is abandoning us to go to the other body and join Senator 
Daschle's staff, an excellent choice if he has to go to the Senate. We 
would have rather he stayed with us. We just want to publicly thank him 
for all of his fine work and tell him if he changes his mind we will be 
happy to take him back, at reduced pay, of course.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. I think all of us 
were truly impressed by the changes that have occurred in Mexico and 
the electoral process. The good news is that democratic change has 
occurred there peacefully with our neighbor to the south, a country 
that I have great admiration for and have spent many vacations there.
  Mr. Speaker, Mexico needs to go beyond simple political reform. It 
needs economic reform. It needs to be a country that gives not only 
democratic opportunity politically, it needs to give democratic 
economic opportunity to its citizenry as well. So I applaud what 
happened in Mexico, and I hope that we can work together to give every 
Mexican an opportunity to benefit from this change.
  Additionally, I would only like to say, Mr. Speaker, that while we 
see this good news of democracy in Mexico and Venezuela, Peru and 
Haiti, we see democracy losing ground, and we all need to keep focused 
to make sure that in Venezuela, where democracy has been strong for so 
long, that it is not lost; in Peru and Haiti, that the troubles there 
do not lead to a continued deterioration in the democratic process.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), who recently led a 44-member 
delegation to oversee the national election in Mexico. He is my good 
friend and the chairman of the House Committee on Rules.
  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to compliment my very good friend, 
the gentleman from Simi, California (Mr. Gallegly), who has done a 
superb job on the Committee on International Relations, and having 
authored this resolution is a demonstration of his strong commitment to 
building ties between the two very important nations.
  I would like to say that the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. 
Gejdenson) is somewhat modest on this when he talks about how he has 
vacationed in Mexico. He has actually worked in Mexico, too, because he 
is a veteran member of the Mexico-U.S. Interparliamentary Conference; 
and over the past 2 decades that he and I have been privileged to serve 
here in the Congress, he has been an active participant in a number of 
those meetings and has, as I have, observed the tremendous transition 
which has taken place.
  In fact, when he and I were elected to the Congress exactly 20 years 
ago, we saw a Mexico which in fact was facing very serious economic 
problems. In fact, I remember in 1982, after the first Mexico-U.S. 
Interparliamentary meeting that I attended, we saw President Lopez 
Portillo nationalize the banking system and we saw a wide range of 
other steps which were actually retrograde steps when it comes to the 
issue of economic reform. Beginning in 1988, we saw the economic reform 
that my friend is actually saying needs to take place.
  What we saw was policies put into place in the Salinas 
administration, led by the likes of Pedro Aspe, the treasury secretary, 
and Jaime Serra Puce, the commerce secretary who brought about the kind 
of reform that we as a nation and the rest of the world are moving 
towards: privatization, decentralization.
  They closed down many state-owned enterprises. They, in fact, saw 
President Salinas because of his concern for environmental issues close 
down the largest oil refinery, putting 5,000 people out of work in 
Mexico City because of his commitment to environmental issues. That 
took place during the 6-year period of the Salinas administration; and, 
admittedly, there were many

[[Page H6947]]

problems. President Salinas continues to face problems there, but his 
commitment to economic reform which began in 1988 was key to what we 
saw on July 2.
  Now, in 1993 and 1994, my friend the gentleman, from Arizona (Mr. 
Kolbe), who is going to be speaking in just a few minutes, often at 
10:39 in the evening, would stand here and talk about the importance of 
breaking down barriers, tariff barriers, among Canada, the United 
States and Mexico as we were seeking to get the Congress to pass the 
North American Free Trade Agreement. We argued that if we were to pass 
the North American Free Trade Agreement we would see very positive 
changes and economic improvement. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the 
fact that that has happened.
  We have seen a dramatic improvement in both the standard of living in 
the United States and in Mexico. In fact, today the Mexican population 
that is considered to be middle class is larger than the entire 
Canadian population.
  So, sure, there are many poor people in Mexico, and there are many 
rich people in Mexico. We have often heard that to be the case, but the 
North American Free Trade Agreement has been key in our quest to see 
the standard of living improve in Mexico. Much more work remains to be 
done, but we saw that step take place. We knew, based on the evidence 
that we have seen in other countries in this hemisphere, Argentina and 
Chile and the Pacific Rim, South Korea and Taiwan, that focusing on 
economic reform would in fact bring about an improvement in the issue 
of self-determination, political rights, human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I will say, having joined with the former Secretary of 
State, James Baker, and the mayor of San Diego, Susan Golding, in co-
leading a delegation of the International Republican Institute, an arm 
of the National Endowment for Democracy, we saw self-determination 
finally take hold.
  Now we have seen the success of opposition parties in mayoral 
elections. In fact, 15 of the 16 largest cities in Mexico have 
opposition party mayors. Governorships throughout the country, of the 
32 states, we have seen a number of them with opposition party 
governors, but for 71 years we continued through a dozen elections to 
see the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the PRI party, hold control.
  In fact, even members within the PRI acknowledged that there were a 
great deal of problems, to put it mildly, in elections that have taken 
place in the past. We remember very well in the 1994 election when the 
computers broke down, the PAN party had actually been ahead, and we saw 
a change that took place overnight. So that is why the commitment that 
President Zedillo made to strengthen the FEI, the Federal Electoral 
Institute, which was designed to have an independent body, independent 
of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, play a role in encouraging 
free and fair elections.
  We saw it finally work. It is a demonstration of the commitment to 
economic reform and the success of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement, the commitment of President Zedillo and as my friend from 
California, the author of this resolution, along with the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) made it very, very clear, the success of the 
National Action Party, the party which has embraced the policies which 
I believe are key to bringing about the kind of success economically 
that we have seen in the United States and around the world.
  I am happy to see the PRI party embrace many of those PAN party 
positions during the 1990s, but now the people of Mexico are going to 
get the real thing with Vicente Fox as its president.
  It is a coalition that has been put together, but the sense of 
optimism that I saw in Mexico was overwhelming. On election night, at 
about 1:00 in the morning, I joined one of the members of our 
delegation, M. Delal Baer, who is one of the most prominent 
Mexicologists at the Center for Strategic International Studies here in 
Washington, and to stand at what is known as the Plaza, which is the 
Angel of Independence, when Vicente Fox came out we stood among about 
50,000 or 60,000 people, the level of optimism, the confidence that the 
people had was incredible.
  I will say in closing that I will never forget being in a little tiny 
town called Metepec, which is in the hills above Puebla and Atlisco, 
when at 6:00 we counted the ballots, which was in a rural area where in 
fact the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the PRI party, was supposed 
to be very strong because of a lot of things that they had done to 
promote incumbency there, and a young 18-year-old woman who was the 
representative of the National Action Party stood there, and we 
witnessed the counting of the ballots in this casilla, which was a 
voting station. The vote was 210 votes for Vicente Fox and 106 for the 
PRI party candidate, Francisco Labastida.
  What we saw was a level of excitement because this woman said to me, 
my family for years, as members of the National Action Party, we have 
been working to bring this day about, and it has finally happened. That 
is why I think it is very important for us as a Nation to say that the 
already strong relationship between Mexico and the United States will, 
I believe, be strengthened even more with the election of Vicente Fox. 
I believe that we have a tremendous potential for the future.
  I congratulate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) for joining in 
as a cosponsor of this resolution. I want to again congratulate my 
friend, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), who for years and years 
and years has pursued improvements in Mexico; and I was pleased when he 
stood in this aisle in 1987 and asked me to join with him as a 
cosponsors of legislation to eliminate those tariff barriers, and we on 
July 2 saw that ultimate victory because of the economic reform.

                              {time}  2245

  So I congratulate the people of Mexico and, of course, my colleagues 
who moved ahead with this.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez).
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, a special thanks, of course, to everyone 
that is here to speak to this issue and to this resolution. I 
especially appreciate the words from the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Dreier), looking forward to even a better relationship with Mexico and 
what this election represents.
  A special thanks to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) and 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) and their staffs for the 
privilege they have provided me to work with them on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate our neighbor, Mexico, for 
its peaceful, transparent federal election that took place on July 2, 
2000. The Mexican citizens, through their participation and dedication 
to electoral reform in numbers that exceed those by our own voters in 
our elections, must be credited for assuring that this election was in 
fact transparent, fair, open, and in the final analysis a democratic 
success.
  The United States and Mexico, joined by a common border, share mutual 
interests and concerns that make the fate of one country dependent on 
the other. The City of San Antonio, my city, with its proximity to 
Mexico, has always had a unique bond with Mexico due to its shared 
history.
  The mutual responsibilities of Mexico and the United States make this 
a historic election important to our economies and national security. 
Today, with this election, Mexico will enter a new era that will have 
consequences for its international relationship, not only with the 
United States but with the rest of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that with President-elect Fox's leadership, as 
demonstrated during his campaign for office, he will reach out and 
embrace the different factions in Mexico, joining the country in its 
united cause to ensure that Mexico's dedication to democracy will not 
be compromised.
  Finally, I would like to congratulate President Zedillo and 
President-elect Vicente Fox for their commitment to a peaceful 
transition of power.
  In closing, I would hope what this election represents is a fruition 
of great effort by many of the greatest leaders in Mexico. Mr. Speaker, 
on reflection, when my grandparents came over in 1908 seeking a certain 
dream that they felt they could only achieve

[[Page H6948]]

under the system in the United States, that after this election and 
what it brings that it will mean that individuals in Mexico will 
achieve the same dream that my grandparents sought in the United 
States, but rather than within their own borders of Mexico.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in 
acknowledging this historic moment for our neighbors and friends to the 
south. We know that just 3 weeks ago Vicente Fox achieved a monumental 
victory in assuring his ascension to the Mexican Presidency.
  I had a chance to meet Mr. Fox during the campaign. I spent several 
weeks in Mexico watching the election. I saw the hope and the optimism 
and the excitement engendered by his candidacy; a hope and optimism 
which I think bodes well for U.S.-Mexico relations.
  This election represents also the example of leadership that was 
shown by President Ernesto Zedillo. He embarked on a reform policy from 
the beginning of his own 6-year presidency. He stayed committed to it 
and there was widespread confidence in the fairness of the election 
throughout Mexico.
  On election night, President Zedillo recognized the legitimacy of Mr. 
Fox's victory and guaranteed the peaceful transfer of power. That will 
be his most enduring legacy. That legacy, the devotion to democracy, is 
a legacy to hold sacred the voices of Mexico's people.
  Mr. Speaker, the district I represent, California's 50th, part of the 
City of San Diego, lies directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and my 
community shares close ties with Mexico. From our homes we look south 
and see the Mexican hills. We share ocean and river water, businesses 
and culture. The greatest number of legal cross-border travelers 
between any two nations in the world pass through my district.
  But another highly visible feature of my district is a border fence, 
a symbolic scar that separates our businesses, our friendships, our 
families. On each side of that fence is tension, mistrust and violence. 
At this border we have great problems to solve and great challenges to 
meet: Immigration problems, environmental problems, infrastructure 
problems.
  But Mr. Fox has already boldly spoken out on these issues. He sees a 
Mexican economy that will provide 1.5 million new jobs a year and a 
national campaign to raise standards of living and increase access to 
health care and education. He sees the breakup of a corrupt 
bureaucracy. He has promised to deal with human rights concerns in 
Chiapas. All these steps Mr. Fox rightly knows will reduce the pressure 
of immigration on our border.
  Mr. Speaker, many San Diegans are as excited about the prospects of 
this new Mexico and this new border as are the Mexican people 
themselves. I believe now is the time to tear down the barriers, to 
embrace the new President and the Mexican president. Rather than 
building walls, it is time to build bridges and encourage Mexico's new 
and successful commitment to democracy. We can gain so much from this 
cooperative effort. We have already begun.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to the new President, ``Senor Presidente, si, se 
puede.''
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe).
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Gallegly) for yielding me this time, and I thank him for his leadership 
in bringing this resolution to the floor. I also thank the gentleman 
from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Gonzalez) for their efforts as well.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a historic moment that we are here on the floor 
with this resolution, and I rise in strong support of it, a resolution 
to congratulate the people of Mexico for their historic democratic 
election which was held just a few days ago.
  As a student of U.S.-Mexico relations, I know that history has not 
always been kind to Mexico. From the Spanish conquest of Mexico to the 
dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, Mexico was for too long under the thumb 
of oppressive governments. The Mexican revolution broke those chains of 
oppression, but it threw Mexico into years of civil war and infighting. 
It was not until the PRI consolidated power 70-plus years ago that 
peace really returned to Mexico.
  During the past two PRI presidencies, we began to see real change 
occurring in Mexico. A traditionally closed and protected economy began 
to open up to the world. United States and Mexico, sensing an historic 
opportunity, locked these reforms into place with the conclusion of the 
North American Free Trade Agreement. But NAFTA was more than a simple 
trade agreement between our three countries. It symbolized a new sense 
of partnership between the United States and Mexico. It made concrete 
what we all know to be true, that like it or not, the United States and 
Mexico share a common future.
  Economically, I think NAFTA has been a huge success. It helps to 
bring investor confidence to Mexico. It has enabled both the United 
States and Mexico to specialize its production and it has led to 
increased exports on both sides of the border. But the true success of 
NAFTA lies much deeper than that.
  As I have always said, with economic reforms, political reforms will 
follow. And there is no greater testament to this fundamental truth 
than the recent democratic elections in Mexico.
  So, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate the 
Mexican people for the bold and visionary steps that they have taken in 
recent years and very dramatically with this election. This month's 
election is the cumulation of slow political change in Mexico. And so 
we congratulate President-elect Vicente Fox and his party, the National 
Action Party.
  But we congratulate more than an individual and more than a political 
party. We congratulate the people of Mexico, for this is a moment that 
Mexico should be justly proud. It is not the end; it is the beginning 
of a new era, a new era of openness, of democracy, of prosperity for 
the Mexican people.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to extend my best wishes and sincere 
congratulations to the people of Mexico. As the Mexicans themselves 
might say it, ``En hora buena. Muchas Felicidades.'' Well done, 
congratulations.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), who is a valuable member 
of the committee.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 544 congratulating Vicente 
Fox and the Mexican people for this very successful election. Vicente 
Fox as a candidate was in the Capitol some months ago and I talked to 
him about Chiapas, the very poor state in southern Mexico, talking 
about rural development, about health care in Chiapas, and especially 
about the military occupation from the central government of many of 
the rural areas of Chiapas.
  Once a year a Cleveland doctor friend of mine, who practices in the 
inner-city clinic in Cleveland, goes to Chiapas for a month and 
practices in a rural Catholic hospital. She has worked on several 
patients with tuberculosis. She tells me that in order to treat 
tuberculosis, someone needs to visit a doctor or a health clinic, or 
the health worker needs to go to the person's home and take medicine 
there every day for 6 months.
  The problem in Chiapas is that patients simply cannot get to and from 
a clinic, nor can the workers in the clinics get to the patients' 
homes, because of the check points and the military occupation in 
southern Mexico in Chiapas. President Fox, back then Candidate Fox, 
pledged to me and several others publicly and privately that one of the 
first things he would do is negotiate with those indigenous peoples to 
get the military out of southern Mexico to get the military occupation 
out of Chiapas.
  Mr. Speaker, that is a very important issue for the health of many of 
those people in rural southern Mexico, many of the indigenous people. I 
hope he follows up on that promise.
  Second, very quickly, Mr. Speaker, President Fox talked during his 
campaign, and since, about beginning to

[[Page H6949]]

put together if you will a European Union style deepening of the North 
American Free Trade Agreement. Many of us have mixed feelings about the 
success of NAFTA. I feel it has not been a success at all, unlike the 
previous speaker. Nonetheless, if he is going to pursue an EU-style, 
European Union style deepening of NAFTA, customs issues, currency 
issues, things like that. It is important that he also with that, as 
the Europeans have done, enact strong labor standards, strong 
environmental standards, strong food safety, truck safety standards; 
all the issues that will raise Mexicans up, not bring American food 
safety and environmental standards down. That will help build a 
prosperous middle class in Mexico so we can have real trade between the 
two countries.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Fox's election and applaud the Mexican 
people for their success. I ask Mr. Fox and again urge him in terms of 
the indigenous people in Chiapas and the military occupation and the 
EU-style deepening of NAFTA.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), also a 
member of the committee.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I join strongly with our colleagues in 
urging the passage of House Resolution 544 which congratulates the 
people and the government of Mexico for their tremendous success of 
their democratic elections held earlier this month.
  Mr. Speaker, I certainly would want to thank the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of our Committee on International 
Relations, and also the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), the 
ranking Democratic member, for their leadership and support of this 
legislation.
  I also want to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), 
chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, my good friend, 
for introducing this legislation, and thank the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), the ranking Democratic member of the 
subcommittee, for bringing the measure to the floor. I am proud to join 
them as a cosponsor and strongly urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has had a long close and special 
relationship with Mexico, our nearest neighbor to the south. I, and 
many of our colleagues, have traveled to that Nation to review issues 
of mutual concern. That is why we take great pride in Mexico's historic 
exercise of democracy this month, which saw national elections ending 
the three-quarters of a century domination and one-party rule by the 
PRI, or the Institutional Revolutionary Party.
  In what is seen as the fairest and most competitive presidential 
elections ever in Mexico, two-thirds of eligible voters, over 35 
million strong, participated.

                              {time}  2300

  According to former President Jimmy Carter, who observed the 
elections from Mexico City, ``The Carter Center has been monitoring 
elections down here for more than 12 years and this one was almost 
perfect.''
  Mr. Speaker, of Mexico's 113,423 voting stations, it is reported that 
99.99 percent functioned normally and without fraud, a country with a 
population of some 85 million plus. I say what a great example for a 
country with democratic institutions in place.
  Mr. Speaker, there is an extraordinary accomplishment, a sign of 
political maturity and commitment to democracy, for which the good 
people of Mexico should be given tremendous credit.
  Mr. Speaker, at the eve of such dynamic changes with Mexico's 
election process, I also want to especially note that Mexico's newly 
elected leaders to take up more seriously the really needed social and 
economic issues of the needs of millions of indigenous Indians who live 
in that country. I am certain that Mexico's first president and leader 
who liberated Mexico from Maximilian rule and, for that matter, from 
European colonialism, the irony of all of this, Mr. Speaker, is that 
Benito Juarez, the George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in Mexico 
combined, in my humble opinion, was a pure-blooded indigenous Indian 
who was orphaned at a tender age and educated by Catholic priests, even 
had personal communications with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
  One of the things I want to share with my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, 
when President Lincoln was assassinated, Mexico was the only country 
that President Juarez ordered flags half mast to pay honor and homage 
to President Abraham Lincoln. That is the caliber of this gentleman's 
leadership. I am very touched by the fact that I am sure that Benito 
Juarez would have been very happy with the results of the election.
  But I want to note and to also send this message: Our friends in 
Mexico, do not neglect the needs of the indigenous Indians, the 
millions of indigenous Indians in that country.
  Mr. Speaker, as we depart the 20th century, outgoing President 
Ernesto Zedillo should be recognized and commended for the electoral 
reforms he instituted that made possible free and fair elections in 
Mexico, which is truly an admirable legacy.
  As we enter the 21st century, the United States should strive to 
support the President-elect Vicente Fox and his visionary agenda for 
Mexico to overhaul government and stop corruption, improve employment 
and strengthen education, and to vigorously combat the international 
drug trade.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Mexico have spoken, and they clearly want 
change from the corrupt practices of past administrations. This 
stunning example of democracy by one of our two closest neighbors are 
very special at a time when democratic institutions seem threatened in 
other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I commend 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly).
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 
proponents of this legislation.
  Texas has a long-standing relationship, historical relationship with 
the Nation of Mexico. Let me just congratulate this being the first 
transition of government in 71 years.
  Mr. Fox's election completes Mexico's transition to a total 
multiparty democratic system. I think the applause goes to the American 
people and to the Mexican people for their continued friendship, but 
particularly those who came out to vote in this most recent election 
where estimates say that more than or almost two-thirds of all eligible 
voters participated in what domestic and international election 
observers have declared to be the fairest and most transparent national 
election in Mexico's history.
  I believe this is the road to a longer lasting and continued 
friendship between the United States and Mexico. As a Representative 
from Houston, let me say that we have continued and over the years 
continued to improve and to applaud the relationship that we have had 
with Mexico City, doing business, exchange of ideas, exchange of 
educational opportunities, exchange of our legislators. So there is a 
long-standing friendship, even of my local community.
  I look forward to this new democracy being part of Mexico's increased 
and enhanced prosperity. I applaud the elections, and I wish them the 
very best.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution congratulating the 
people of the United Mexican States on their democratic elections held 
on July 2, 2000. These recent events are truly historical and will not 
only have an impact on Mexico's citizens, but also the impact of this 
change will be experienced the world over.
  Throughout our history, the United States and Mexico have shared a 
unique history and continue to share a wide range of interest. In fact, 
my home state of Texas was once a part Mexico. I have often stated that 
America is not only a country of laws but also a country of immigrants.
  The 18th Congressional District of Texas, which I am proud to 
represent, has a large number of people who are immigrants from Mexico 
or are descendants of past Mexican immigrants. I am certain that a 
number of my colleagues have large Hispanic populations in their home 
districts as well. With this in mind,

[[Page H6950]]

it is easy to understand that many of our nation's Hispanic people 
still have strong cultural and family ties to Mexico.
  The bond between family members is not destroyed because one family 
member lives in another country. For this reason, we must take care to 
maintain a close and positive relationship between the United States of 
America and Mexico.
  Such a relationship is important to the people of both nations. A 
democratic and prosperous Mexico is important to the security of the 
United States.
  A brief historical reflection helps us to better appreciate the 
significance of these recent elections. Vicente Fox represents the 
first transition in power at the presidential level in Mexico in 71 
years from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. Mr. Fox's 
election completes Mexico's transition to a total multi-party 
democratic system.
  After a long period of questionable elections, estimates say that 
two-thirds of all eligible voters participated in what domestic and 
international election observers have declared to be the fairest and 
most transparent national election in Mexico's history. As the world's 
leading democratic system of government, the United States of America 
should not fail to recognize the magnitude of these July 2nd elections.
  Mr. Speaker, because of the important democratic principles that 
these recent elections represent, principles that serve as the 
foundation for the American government, I urge all of my colleagues to 
support the passage of House Resolution 544, congratulating the people 
of the United Mexican States on their success.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 544 
commending the people of Mexico on their recent elections and 
congratulating President-elect Vincente Fox on winning a historical 
election as president of Mexico, an important economic ally of the 
United States.
  It has been noted that, in a democracy, more important than the first 
election, is the first transition of power from one party to another. 
It is on this point that the people of Mexico proudly take their place 
alongside the world's great democracies.
  Everyone deserves great credit for this election. As it should be in 
a democracy, it is the people of Mexico who deserve the greatest 
credit. They voted in large numbers, unafraid of what change might mean 
to them and their country.
  When it was apparent that a candidate who was not part of the 
traditional power structure had won the election, Mexicans across the 
country celebrated; and Mexicans who supported the incumbent party did 
not riot nor try to undo the vast change wrought by the democratic 
election. While their revolution was fought from 1910-1920, their long-
term democracy was sealed in the first election of the 21st Century.
  President-elect Vincente Fox deserves great credit for running a 
great campaign, a long and steady campaign. He built a coalition 
composed of people representing various philosophies to include as many 
points of view as possible in his campaign.
  Finally, Ernesto Zedillo, Mexico's sitting president, deserves great 
credit for accepting the country's decision without dissent. It was due 
in no small part to Zedillo's steady hand, cool head, and vow to make 
the transition between political parties go smoothly that led members 
of his party and the government to accept their defeat with grace and 
dignity.
  The United States and Mexico have a long and storied history. As 
proud countries which share an international border, we have had more 
than our share of disagreements as well as victories. Along with that 
border comes an entire culture unto itself, on both sides of the 
border, that consists of traditions, unique cuisine, Old West legends 
and a language that is a mixture of Spanish and English.
  In the past decade, we have strengthened our relationship with Mexico 
by virtue of NAFTA and other trade policies. It is my hope that in this 
decade and this century, the United States and Mexico will further 
cement that relationship with closer work on a host of economic and 
law-enforcement policies. President-elect Fox and the people of Mexico 
have a great deal to work through in the next year.
  I have invited President-elect Fox to the United States to meet with 
me and other Hispanic Members of Congress to talk about issues that 
affect both our countries, but I know he has a great deal to do first. 
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives today offers our 
congratulations to Mexico and President-elect Fox. Adelante. * * * *
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Tancredo). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 544.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________