Dianne Feinstein: “Mr. President, 1 week ago I joined with Senator Coverdell and Senator Helms to introduce resolutions of disapproval, to…”

“Mr. President, 1 week ago I joined with Senator Coverdell and Senator Helms to introduce resolutions of disapproval, to overturn the President's decision to certify Mexico for antidrug cooperation. Last week I went home and I read the State Department's Statement of Explanation, which is just 1 rac{1}{2} ext{ pages. I must say, I read this document with disbelief. At best, this document--which purports to make the case for Mexico's certification-- is a fairy tale. At worst, it is a complete whitewash. Today, I would like to take some time and go over parts of it, and indicate my thoughts on some of the subjects mentioned and refute some of the claims. Let me begin by saying that section 490 of the Foreign Assistance Act requires the President to certify that Mexico has "cooperated fully with the United States, or taken adequate steps on its own" to combat drug trafficking. Despite the best intentions of President Zedillo and the best efforts of the State Department to put a pretty face on the situation, the Department's Statement of Explanation, I believe, defies credibility. The State Department claims that "The Government of Mexico's 1996 counterdrug effort produced encouraging results and notable progress in bilateral cooperation." The facts tell a different story.…”