Henry Bonilla: “the legislation to decertify Mexico, reflects the failed practice of legislating foreign policy. My friends, history has…”

“the legislation to decertify Mexico, reflects the failed practice of legislating foreign policy. My friends, history has clearly demonstrated that doesn't work. This Congress has no authority over foreign nations and our efforts to legislate another country's actions will either be ignored or fan the flames of anti-Americanism. The fact is that the normal diplomatic process provides the tried and true means to voice our concerns. Traditional actions such as withdrawing our Ambassador, limiting or stopping cooperation, opposing loan requests and a variety of other measures that impact the day-to-day relations between nations are by far the most effective means of forcing other nations to consider our concerns. What we really should be voting on today is scraping the entire failed certification process. Policies, like decertification, which are waived once they are implemented only serve to increase contempt, while lessening respect, for American power. Decertification has not stopped the flow a single dollar's worth of drugs from Colombia and decertification of Mexico will prove no more effective. I represent well over 600 miles of our border with Mexico. I know first hand that our current domestic policies are not working. Too many of my constituents are living in fear of the drug smugglers. This must stop. Our Government needs to take substantive action to get more cooperation from Mexico.”