[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2102-S2103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 102--REAFFIRMING THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN 
  THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO, AND RECOGNIZING BILATERAL COOPERATION 
  THAT ADVANCES THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND NATIONAL INTERESTS OF BOTH 
                               COUNTRIES

  Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
McCain, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 102

       Whereas the people of United States and Mexico enjoy shared 
     cultural and economic ties and both nations share common 
     values based on the desire to achieve peace, security, and 
     prosperity in their respective countries;

[[Page S2103]]

       Whereas the Governments of the United States and Mexico 
     engage in bilateral cooperation on a broad range of issues 
     that directly benefits each country's national security and 
     national interests;
       Whereas the United States and Mexico enjoy close diplomatic 
     cooperation and Mexico has consistently voted with the United 
     States at the United Nations on challenges related to Syria, 
     North Korea, and Ukraine, as well as at the Organization of 
     American States on issues related to Venezuela;
       Whereas Mexico is an important security and defense partner 
     to the United States, and regularly participates in training 
     activities in coordination with United States Northern 
     Command (NORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense 
     Command (NORAD);
       Whereas consecutive United States and Mexican 
     administrations have increased bilateral defense and law 
     enforcement cooperation on counterterrorism and 
     counternarcotics issues, including the illicit trafficking of 
     weapons, money, people, and drugs across the United States 
     Southern Border;
       Whereas the Government of Mexico has utilized its military 
     and Federal Police to combat the transnational criminal 
     organizations that have waged campaigns of ruthless violence 
     against the Mexican people and trafficked an immeasurable 
     quantity of illegal drugs into the United States that have 
     taken the lives of far too many Americans;
       Whereas the administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto 
     has extradited more than 270 individuals facing criminal 
     charges to the United States, including Joaquin ``El Chapo'' 
     Guzman on January 19, 2017;
       Whereas the Government of Mexico has initiated an effort to 
     reduce the growing domestic production of heroin through the 
     eradication of poppy and destruction of labs used to make 
     heroin;
       Whereas Mexico has sought to improve anti-corruption 
     efforts at the local, State, and Federal level by adopting a 
     national anticorruption system and starting a transition from 
     a presidentially appointed attorney general's office to a 
     more independent prosecutor general's office selected by the 
     Mexican Senate;
       Whereas, through the Merida Initiative, which was launched 
     in 2008, the Governments of the United States and Mexico have 
     collaborated to combat organized crime, strengthen the rule 
     of law, advance judicial reform, and address challenges to 
     human rights in Mexico, including the involvement of security 
     forces in extrajudicial killings of civilians, the 
     disappearances of more than 23,000 individuals, and the 
     unresolved forced disappearance of 43 students in Guerrero 
     State in 2014;
       Whereas the Governments of the United States and Mexico 
     collaborate on a broad range of initiatives to strengthen the 
     bilateral commercial and economic relationship, including the 
     ongoing High Level Economic Dialogue, launched in 2013 to 
     bring together cabinet officials from both countries to 
     promote economic growth, job creation, a modern and efficient 
     border, and competitiveness;
       Whereas the United States and Mexico conducted 
     $583,600,000,000 in trade in goods and services in 2015, 
     according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative;
       Whereas Mexico is the United States' second largest export 
     market and third largest trading partner;
       Whereas trade with Mexico and Canada supports nearly 
     14,000,000 United States jobs; and
       Whereas United States and Mexican citizens collaborate on a 
     broad range of initiatives to foster entrepreneurship, 
     innovation, and educational exchanges: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms the strategic partnership between the United 
     States and Mexico, which is vital for the national security 
     and economic well-being of both nations;
       (2) supports continued diplomatic, economic, and security 
     cooperation between the United States and Mexico, including 
     undertaking joint efforts to address the common security 
     challenges and opportunities for improved commerce that exist 
     across their nearly 2,000 mile border;
       (3) encourages enhanced security cooperation between the 
     United States and Mexican militaries and law enforcement 
     agencies to address common challenges such as 
     counterterrorism and counternarcotics, including the 
     increased trafficking of heroin and fentanyl;
       (4) commits to continue the United States Government's 
     partnership with the Government of Mexico to combat the 
     transnational criminal organizations that are undermining the 
     rule of law in Mexico and projecting their influence in the 
     form of illicit trafficking of weapons, money, people, and 
     drugs across the United States Southern Border;
       (5) supports efforts by the Government of Mexico to 
     strengthen the rule of law, reduce corruption, and advance 
     civil and human rights; and
       (6) remains committed to a relationship between the United 
     States and Mexico that is based on mutual respect and the 
     promotion of shared democratic values and principles.

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