[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   SENATE RESOLUTION 366--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE 
                        CERTIFICATION OF MEXICO

  Mrs. HUTCHISON (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gramm, Mr. Kyl, Mr. 
Domenici, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Hollings, and Mr. Sessions) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 366

       Whereas Mexico will inaugurate a new government on 1 
     December 2000 that will be the first change of authority from 
     one party to another;
       Whereas the 2nd July election of Vincente Fox Quesada of 
     the Alliance for Change marks an historic transition of power 
     in open and fair elections;
       Whereas Mexico and the United States share a 2,000 mile 
     border, Mexico is the United States' second largest trading 
     partner, and the two countries share historic and cultural 
     ties;
       Whereas drug production and trafficking are a threat to the 
     national interests and the well-being of the citizens of both 
     countries;
       Whereas U.S.-Mexican cooperation on drugs is a cornerstone 
     for policy for both countries in developing effective 
     programs to stop drug use, drug production, and drug 
     trafficking; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,
       (a) The Senate, on behalf of the people of the United 
     States
       (1) welcomes the constitutional transition of power in 
     Mexico;
       (2) congratulates the people of Mexico and their elected 
     representatives for this historic change;
       (3) expresses its intent to continue to work cooperatively 
     with Mexican authorities to promote broad and effective 
     efforts for the health and welfare of U.S. and Mexican 
     citizens endangered by international drug trafficking, use, 
     and production.
       (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that the incoming new governments in both Mexico and the 
     United States must develop and implement a counterdrug 
     program that more effectively addresses the official 
     corruption, the increase in drug traffic, and the lawlessness 
     that has resulted from illegal drug trafficking, and that a 
     one-year waiver of the requirement that the President certify 
     Mexico is warranted to permit both new governments time to do 
     so.

                          ____________________