Barbara Lee: “U.S. relations with Mexico are strong and vital. Our two countries share a 2,000-mile border with 55 active ports of…”

“U.S. relations with Mexico are strong and vital. Our two countries share a 2,000-mile border with 55 active ports of entry, and our bilateral relations with Mexico have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans. I was born and raised in the border town of El Paso, Texas, and I know the importance of the exchanges and support between Mexico and the United States. Our significant cooperation on issues, including trade and economic reform, entrepreneurship and innovation, and energy, are as critical today as they have ever been. Cutting ESF assistance to Mexico would have severe detrimental impacts, crippling the work we do to reduce violence, build a better business environment, and address the root causes of migration. Without our continued support, our assistance to keep youth released from prison from recommitting criminal offenses and being recruited by cartels and other organizations would not be able to continue. The work we do to level the playing field for investors, which includes bringing greater transparency to corrupt business practices and promoting growth in key sectors central to the United States' businesses, such as semiconductors, for example, would be negatively impacted. Cutting ESF would undermine our work to create economic opportunities in high out-migration areas in Mexico's least developed areas and states.…”