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H. Res. 544 for the 106th Congress Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC, July 25, 2000

Whereas the United States and Mexico have a long history of close relations and share a wide range of interests; Whereas the people of the United States and the people of Mexico have extensive cultural and historical ties that bind together families and communities across national boundaries; Whereas a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Mexico is of vital importance to the security of the United States; Whereas a close relationship between the United States and Mexico, based on mutual respect and understanding, is important to the people of both nations; Whereas Mexican leaders from across the political spectrum and representatives of civil society recognized the need for political and electoral reform and took important steps to achieve these goals; Whereas on July 2, 2000, nearly two-thirds of all eligible voters in Mexico participated in the national election; Whereas both domestic and international election observers declared the July 2nd elections to be the fairest and most transparent in Mexico's history; Whereas the election of Vincente Fox marks the first transition in power at the presidential level in 71 years from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), completing Mexico's transition to a total multi-party democratic system; Whereas Vincente Fox, the winning presidential candidate, and Ernesto Zedillo, the current president, have both pledged themselves to a peaceful and cooperative transition of power; and Whereas this transparent, fair and democratic election should be broadly commended: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) congratulates the people and Government of the United Mexican States for the successful completion of the democratic multiparty elections for president and the legislature; (2) commends all the citizens and political parties of Mexico for their participation in the democratic process and their strong support for the strengthening of their democracy; (3) congratulates President-elect Vincente Fox for his election victory and his strong commitment to democracy and a free-market oriented economy; and (4) reaffirms the United States friendship with the United Mexican States and our unequivocal commitment to encouraging democracy throughout Latin America. [end of document] Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor | Department of State | Secretary of State