Pete Domenici: “I commend Senator Hutchison, along with Senators Dodd and Feinstein for introducing this bill today. I am pleased to…”

“I commend Senator Hutchison, along with Senators Dodd and Feinstein for introducing this bill today. I am pleased to join in this effort. The election of Vicente Fox as President of Mexico is a remarkable event in the history of our neighbor to the south. After 71 years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, Mexico is about to embark on an important test of its new democracy. Mr. Fox has spoken very eloquently and persuasively in recent weeks and he has offered some interesting new ideas on critical issues which affect both of our countries, like immigration, trade and controlling illegal drugs. Some of his ideas are quite impressive, and they certainly will spur debate both in the United States and in Mexico. I think it is important for our leaders in the United States, particularly those in the border region, to engage Mr. Fox, talk with him, listen to his ideas and offer our own thoughts to him. In this spirit of cooperation and acceptance, I think it is critical for the United States to suspend the drug certification process for Mexico this coming year. Mr. Fox needs time to build his administration, and to develop his own plan for dealing with the drug cartels.”