William Helms: “I am genuinely grateful to the distinguished Senator from Georgia [Mr. Coverdell] and the distinguished Senator from…”

“I am genuinely grateful to the distinguished Senator from Georgia [Mr. Coverdell] and the distinguished Senator from California [Mrs. Feinstein] for their excellent work on this issue. They deserve credit for keeping the Senate focused on the question of Mexico's counterdrug cooperation with the United States. Through this resolution, Senators Coverdell and Feinstein, in a very fair and very essential way, have made clear the Senate's dissatisfaction with the status quo. Mr. President, I know of no Senator who was pleased with the President's decision to certify Mexico as cooperating fully with the United States; the evidence clearly supports a different conclusion. This resolution gives both the President of Mexico and President Clinton an opportunity for redemption. Mexico's President Zedillo has made numerous declarations against drug trafficking--which we applaud. Moreover, we recognize that President Zedillo is no Ernesto Samper. But, as for the two countries, Colombia and Mexico, the only difference between the two is that, in Colombia, the Presidency was bought and paid for by drug lords, while, in Mexico, the Presidency may be the only level of government not bought and paid for by the drug lords. Mr. President, U.S. law requires more than well-meaning statements for a nation to be certified as cooperating fully. Our law requires performance. In the case of Mexico, performance has fallen far short of the rhetoric.”