[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mr. Gramm):
  S. 435. A bill to provide that the annual drug certification 
procedures under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 not apply to 
certain countries with which the United States has bilateral agreements 
and other plans relating to counterdrug activities, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, over the last several years, Congress has 
had no good options when it comes to the certification of major drug 
producing and drug transit countries. This has been most apparent in 
our annual debate over the certification of Mexico's efforts in 
combating illicit drugs.
  Certifying Mexico has been very difficult to do in light of the 
upsetting statistics showing that Mexico is a major point of production 
and transit for drugs entering the United States. I have also been, and 
continue to be, concerned about the influence of powerful drug cartels 
in Mexico. In fact, in 1998, I joined 44 other Senators in voting in 
favor of decertifying Mexico.
  Nevertheless, I join many of my colleagues in the belief that the 
certification process does not work as it was intended. In some cases, 
what we have now is the worst of both worlds. The certification process 
subjects some of our closest allies and trading partners to an annual 
ritual of finger-pointing and humiliation rather than supporting mutual 
efforts to control illicit drugs.
  Today, Senator Gramm and I are reintroducing legislation which we 
hope will lead to a more honest and realistic way of addressing the 
international drug problem. By replacing confrontation with 
cooperation, we are encouraging nations to join the United States in 
fighting drugs while eliminating a process which strains our relations 
with allies such as Mexico.
  Our legislation would exempt from the certification process those 
countries that have a bilateral agreement with the United States. These 
agreements would have to address issues relating to the control of 
illicit drugs--including production, distribution, interdiction, demand 
reduction, border security, and cooperation among law enforcement 
agencies.
  This alternative will give both countries a way to work together for 
real goals with real results. Make no mistake, this will not give 
Mexico or any other country a free pass on fighting illicit drugs. On 
the contrary, our bill encourages the adoption of tough bilateral 
agreements. It specifically spells out issues that must be addressed in 
the agreements.
  We specifically require the adoption of ``timetables and objective 
and measurable standards.'' And we require semi-annual reports 
assessing the progress of both countries under the bilateral agreement. 
If progress is not made, the country returns to the annual 
certification process, which involves the possibility of sanctions.
  This issue is particularly important to those of us from border 
states, which are hit so hard by the traffic in illegal drugs. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues on a bipartisan and comprehensive 
solution.
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