S6762 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 13, 2000 Whereas Fragile X research, both basic and which shocked the experts who had olution that commends Mexico on the applied, has been vastly underfunded despite predicted that the ruling Institutional results of their elections. There is no the prevalence of the disorder, the potential Revolutionary Party (PRI) could not doubt that this was an event of historic for the development of a cure, the estab- be defeated and driven from power. An proportions. The Mexican people have, lished benefits of available treatments and intervention, and the significance that Frag- articulate and steadfast candidate through careful consideration and a ile X research has for related disorders; and named Vicente Fox Quesada thought peaceful political process, ended over Whereas the Senate as an institution and differently—and he was right. seven decades of rule by a single polit- Members of Congress as individuals are in With the support of millions of Mexi- ical party. By doing so they have unique positions to help raise public aware- cans across the political spectrum, turned their country into a true de- ness about the need for increased funding for Governor Fox won 42.5 percent of the mocracy. They deserve this recogni- research and early diagnosis and treatment votes cast—six points ahead of the PRI tion. for the disorder known as Fragile X: Now, candidate, Francisco Labistida. And My colleague’s resolution captures therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate designate July since the third-place candidate re- the significance of this vote to the 22, 2000 as ‘‘National Fragile X Awareness ceived nearly 17 percent of the vote, United States in terms of our national Day’’. that meant that 60 percent of the 37.6 interest and our social welfare. As my f million Mexicans who voted wanted to state sits right across the border from put an end to the PRI’s stranglehold. Mexico, New Mexicans are well aware MEASURE PLACED ON THE Thus the conventional wisdom that that the destinies of our two countries CALENDAR—H.R. 894 regarded the PRI political machine as have been, and will be, intertwined. We Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I under- being invincible avoided two facts: (1) have always shared similarities in her- stand there is a bill at the desk due for the legendary PRI political machine itage and language with the Mexican its second reading. had never been in a fair fight; and (2) people, and this has established the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the Mexican people have been striving means by which cultural and economic clerk will report the bill by title. for decades to put an end to the one- interaction can increase rapidly and The assistant legislative clerk read party rule that has wrought corrup- consistently over time. as follows: tion, poverty, and insecurity. It is clear that the new President of A bill (H.R. 894) to encourage States to in- Mexico’s president-elect, Vicente Mexico, Vincente Fox, faces a broad carcerate individuals convicted of murder, Fox, has pledged to root out the grind- range of tough challenges as he as- rape, or child molestation. ing corruption that has locked 40 per- sumes office and plots a course for the Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I object to cent of the Mexican population into future. Expectations are high and the further proceeding on this bill at this poverty and the others into insecurity. obstacles are great. Privatization, cor- time. Mr. Fox has an agenda of free-market ruption, education, economic growth, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill policies with a commitment that no narcotics, crime and health—all these will be placed on the calendar. Mexican will be excluded from eco- issues require immediate attention. It nomic opportunity and development. f is encouraging to see President Ernesto Furthermroe, president-elect Fox has Zedillo already working in tandem MEASURE READ THE FIRST a sensible plan to reform the Mexican with the new government to ensure a TIME—S. 2869 Government to make it accountable to successful transition. This will inevi- Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I under- the people. And, he has vowed to work tably benefit the Mexican people. stand that S. 2869 is at the desk. I ask with the United States and other coun- I concur with the goals of the resolu- for its first reading. tries to fight the deadly gangsters who tion, specifically the pledge for in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The traffic in illegal drugs in Mexico with creased cooperation with the Govern- clerk will report the bill by title. virtual impunity. ment of Mexico so that we might con- So, this ambitious reform agenda is The assistant legislative clerk read front the threats that our countries good news for the American people as as follows: face and improve the quality of life for well as Mexicans. For the first time, we our people. I wish President-elect Fox A bill (S. 2869) to protect religious liberty, will have a full partner in a truly le- and for other purposes. luck in his efforts, and I look forward gitimate and sovereign Mexican Gov- to working with him in the future. Mr. ROTH. I now ask for its second ernment—one willing to work with us reading and object to my own request. Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unan- to make the most of shared opportuni- imous consent that the resolution be The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- ties and to confront common chal- tion is heard. agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, lenges. the motion to reconsider be laid upon f Outgoing President Ernesto Zedillo’s the table, and any statements relating CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE election-night address, in which he rec- to the resolution be printed in the OF MEXICO ognized the victory of Vicente Fox and RECORD. pledged to work for a smooth and or- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unan- derly transition, seals his place in imous consent that the Senate now objection, it is so ordered. Mexican history. From his earliest The resolution (S. Res. 335) was proceed to the immediate consider- days in office, President Zedillo had de- ation of S. Res. 335 submitted earlier agreed to. clared his intent to break the cycle of The preamble was agreed to. by Senator HELMS for himself and oth- election thievery that had marked 70 ers. The resolution, with its preamble, years of PRI rule, and the gentleman reads as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER. The kept his word. S. RES. 335 clerk will report the bill by title. A special tribute is due the men and The assistant legislative clerk read women of the Federal Electoral Insti- Whereas the United States and Mexico as follows: share a border of more than 2,000 miles; tute who systematically ensured that Whereas Mexico is the second largest trade A resolution (S. Res. 335) congratulating Mexicans would get the free and honest partner of the United States, with a two-way the people of Mexico on the occasion of the elections they demanded. The IFE trade of $174,000,000,000; democratic elections in that country. lived up to its mandate and has shown Whereas United States companies have in- There being no objection, the Senate itself to be one of the premier electoral vested more than $25,000,000,000 in Mexico proceeded to consider the resolution. bodies in the world. from 1994–1999; Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, una- My resolution congratulates the Whereas more than 20,000,000 people now in nimity is a rare event in the Senate Mexican people, President-elect Fox, the United States are of Mexican descent, a these days but I suspect that there may fact that in and of itself forges profound and and President Ernesto Zedillo. It is a permanent cultural ties between our 2 coun- be unanimous approval of a resolution new day in Mexico and for relations be- tries; I am proposing commending and con- tween our two great nations. Whereas the well-being and security of the gratulating the people of Mexico for Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise United States and Mexico require govern- their July 2 democratic elections, today in support of Senator HELM’s res- ments willing and able to cooperate fully to

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