Senator Feinstein Seeks to Suspend Certification
Process With Mexico for One Year
February 15, 2001

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today joined Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) to introduce legislation suspending the annual certification process with Mexico for a year in the hope of seeing increased cooperation between Mexico and the United States in the battle against narcotics trafficking.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) and Phil Gramm (R-Texas). The following is Senator Feinstein’s statement on the legislation:

“I recently met with Mexican President Vicente Fox in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum. I had an opportunity to share with him my deep concern about drugs, my interest in working with him on cross border issues, and facilitating trade and improving the standard of living of our two peoples.

I indicated to President Fox that the two most significant things that can be done in the area of drug control were the extradition of major narcotic traffickers for whom extradition requests are pending and arrest and prosecution of cartel leaders who have broken the law.

I was very impressed with President Fox's determination to move ahead in an orderly way and to increase Mexico's activity with respect to law enforcement in this area. I am prepared to give President Fox an opportunity to make some needed changes because he has shown by his actions thus far that he is in the process of making them.

I believe he has a tremendously difficult job ahead of him. Therefore, I do not want to complicate that with a fight over certification. So with that, I am very happy to give President Fox the time to compile a positive record with regard to drugs, and I have joined with Senator Hutchinson in supporting this bill.”