Raising concern about the proposed constitutional reforms in Mexico.

Bill: 118-hres-1435
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
Introduced: 2024-09-10
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Mexico

North America

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Trade agreements and negotiations
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-24
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1435 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 10, 2024 Mr. Stanton (for himself and Ms. Salazar ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Raising concern about the proposed constitutional reforms in Mexico.

Whereas the United States and Mexico are committed to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation that benefits the people of the United States and Mexico; Whereas the United States and Mexico are top trade partners, trading more than $750,000,000,000 worth of goods in 2023; Whereas United States companies directly invested $130,300,000,000 into Mexico in 2022, and nearly 5,000,000 United States jobs depend on trade with Mexico; Whereas the United States, Mexico, and Canada will participate in the first review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2026; Whereas Mexican President López Obrador proposed constitutional reforms on February 5, 2024, including a range of proposals to modify the Mexican judiciary; Whereas some of these reforms were approved by a Chamber of Deputies committee vote on August 26, 2024, and could receive a vote by Mexico’s Congress of the Union in September 2024; Whereas Mexican Federal judges initiated a widespread and indefinite strike on August 21, 2024, in response to proposed judicial reforms; Whereas Mexico’s National Association of Circuit and District Judges, the Inter-American Dialogue, the Mexican Bar Association, the Global Enterprise Council, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, the United States Chamber of Commerce, and thousands of striking Mexican Federal court employees and magistrates have voiced concerns with the proposed reforms; Whereas, under proposed judicial reforms, all Federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices, would be directly elected, independent oversight of the judiciary would end, and judicial qualification standards would be reduced; and Whereas broader constitutional reforms would— (1) eliminate autonomous oversight of social development policy and education; the energy, hydrocarbon, and telecommunications industries; and enforcement of antitrust and transparency laws; (2) reduce the size, oversight capacity, and sanctions authority of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute; and (3) impose a prohibition on genetically modified corn: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) raises concern that the proposed constitutional reforms would have a long-term negative impact on Mexico’s democratic institutions, separation of powers, judicial independence and transparency, and security, while undermining its electoral system, National Guard, and oversight agencies; (2) expresses deep concern that the proposed constitutional reforms may contradict commitments made in the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, jeopardizing critical economic and security interests shared by the United States and Mexico; (3) underscores that several aspects of the reform package undermine United States-Mexico joint efforts to strengthen the rule of law, counter organized crime, and address the scourge of fentanyl and human and arms trafficking among broader bilateral priorities; and (4) reaffirms its commitment to a robust, mutually respectful relationship between the sovereign countries of the United States and Mexico.