Howard Berman: “What I urge the Members of this body to do is to focus on the purpose of this initiative. This is an initiative that is…”

“What I urge the Members of this body to do is to focus on the purpose of this initiative. This is an initiative that is in America's deep national interest. The whole issue of illicit narcotics trade, the role of the corridor between Central America and Mexico in contributing and supplying these illicit narcotics, the war going on in Mexico between the drug cartels, and a president and a leadership that is now taking this head on serves our national interests. Our effort to stem illegal immigration is directly connected, and the effectiveness of it will be greatly dependent on our ability to stop these cartels and to smash this trade in illicit narcotics. Whatever one's concern is about a particular aspect of the U.S.- Mexican relationship, I would suggest from America's interest point of view that this issue, this initiative, is a compelling one and should be supported.”