105th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. CON. RES. 10
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding certification of Mexico pursuant to section 490 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 13, 1997
Mr. GRASSLEY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding certification of Mexico pursuant to section 490 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Whereas Mexico is one of the major source countries for narcotic and psychotropic drugs and other controlled substances entering the United States;
Whereas Mexico is a major transit country for cocaine;
Whereas 70 percent to 80 percent of all foreign-grown marijuana in the United States originates in Mexico;
Whereas criminal organizations in Mexico are involved in smuggling across the United States border;
Whereas criminal organizations in Mexico are engaged in the routine corruption of Mexican officials;
Whereas Mexico has not taken adequate steps to prevent or punish bribery and other forms of corruption;
Whereas Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo has stated his commitment to ‘create a nation of law,’ combat drug trafficking, investigate assassinations, and punish official corruption at all levels;
Whereas Mexico has not taken adequate steps to arrest or extradite major drug cartel leaders;
Whereas the continued, large-scale transportation of narcotic and psychotropic drugs and other controlled substances from Mexico to the United States is detrimental to the vital national interests of the United States;
Whereas the Government of Mexico has not taken sufficient steps to control its borders against airborne and seaborne smuggling or to implement a promise by President Ernesto Zedillo to develop a radar network along Mexico’s southern border and to take adequate steps to arrest or extradite major drug cartel leaders; and
Whereas the President determined and reported to Congress pursuant to section 490(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291j(b)) that Mexico had taken sufficient steps to combat international narcotics trafficking: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the President should not certify Mexico pursuant to section 490(b)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. 2291j(b)(1)) on March 1, 1998, unless the Government of Mexico demonstrates clear progress in the following matters:
(1) Taking steps to develop and deploy a southern tier of radar to monitor aircraft flying into Mexico and to deploy interception capability to close the air bridge into Mexico.
(2) Arresting or extraditing major drug trafficking kingpins and taking adequate steps to disrupt the operations of major criminal organizations operating in and through Mexico.
(3) Taking adequate steps to stop the corruption of Mexican officials at all levels of government and investigating accusations against State governors and public officials.
(4) Taking swift action to implement recent money-laundering and anti-crime legislation.
(5) Permitting United States law enforcement officials on the United States-Mexico border to cross the border with their weapons and reaching agreement to allow United States law enforcement personnel to continue into Mexico while in ‘hot pursuant’ of suspects.
(7) Reaching an agreement to allow refueling for maritime and air interdiction assets.
(8) Reaching an agreement to permit adequate cooperation with United States law enforcement personnel for intercepting maritime smugglers.
(9) Developing and implementing measures to control and monitor maritime smuggling through major ports and container facilities.
(10) Deploying and using vetted units of specially selected and trained law enforcement personnel to disrupt drug trafficking organizations.
SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this concurrent resolution to the President.