[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONS

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I join President Bush and my colleagues in 
welcoming His Excellency Vicente Fox to the U.S. Capitol today.
  Listening to President Fox's words this morning confirms the special 
relationship that we enjoy between Mexico and the United States.
  We all know, as my colleague and friend just mentioned, that 
immigration policy is crucial and should be the focus of discussions 
between the United States and Mexico. We should be an America that 
welcomes again, and I say that from the heart as the grandson of an 
Irish immigrant to this country.
  But we must also look, Madam Speaker, beyond immigration. We have a 
historic opportunity to expand our relationship rooted in free trade, 
to which President Fox also alluded. President Fox accurately 
acknowledged that we share the most dynamic border in the world. Let us 
show the world how neighbors can improve lives through mutual trust and 
mutual respect.
  Today more than ever it is time for America and Mexico to prove that 
adage that we ought to love our neighbors as ourselves.

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