House Calls on Mexico to Renegotiate
Extradition Treaty in State Department Authorization
Dreier’s Active Response Corps Amendment
Included in Final Version of Bill

July 21, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas), voted today to approve legislation that calls on the Mexican government to work with its Supreme Court to renegotiate its extradition treaty with the United States. It also includes a Dreier-sponsored amendment that would establish the Active Response Corps, a rapid response team designed to aid destabilized governments without military intervention. The Foreign Relations Authorization Act, H.R. 2601, provides authorization for the activities of the State Department for the Fiscal Years of 2006 and 2007. The bill was approved with strong bipartisan support, 351-78.

“The Congress is once again on record - Mexico needs to renegotiate its extradition treaty with the United States,” Dreier said. “Our treaty is out of date and ineffective. I have personally made this argument to members of the Mexican Supreme Court. In addition to today’s vote, it’s my hope that Congress will soon approve the bipartisan Peace Officer Justice Act, a bill I introduced to help solve this problem. Because that bill would allow the full force of the federal government to get behind the prosecution of anyone who kills a peace officer and flees the country, it would provide another impetus to Mexico to reexamine the treaty. It also serves notice to anyone who dares to commit murder and flee the country that they will face the maximum penalty under our laws.”

The bill approved today includes a sense of Congress that the Administration should encourage the government of Mexico to work with its Supreme Court on the 2001 decision that barred extradition for life imprisonment. It also includes a requirement that the State Department submit an annual report to Congress detailing the status of extraditions of Mexican nationals requested by the United States and the status of extraditions of U.S. nationals requested by Mexico. The Peace Officer Justice Act, H.R. 2363, would make it a federal crime to murder a peace officer and flee the United States. It would provide for the death penalty or life imprisonment.

The Dreier Active Reserve Corps amendment permits the Secretary of State to assemble a group of experts to provide foreign countries with assistance for reconstruction and transition from periods of conflict of civil strife. In addition, the help of Active Response Corps will also be available to countries in danger of conflict or civil strife. The Secretary of State, with the counsel of the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will be allowed to direct the recruitment, hiring, and training of the Corps. Following this preparation process, the Corps will then be available whenever the President determines it is in the interest of our national security to engage the Corps in a foreign country.

Dreier added that recent history demonstrates the importance of early intervention in deteriorating situations. “Among the many lessons of September 11, 2001, is that we cannot allow countries to spiral into chaos and be taken over by rogue elements that use them as a training ground for terror. This new effort will be another tool in the ongoing Global War on Terror. Hopefully, this tool will eventually save lives, both civilian and military, as we continue to help spread freedom across the globe."

HOUSE URGES CHANGES IN MEXICO'S EXTRADITION POLICY - INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN, PASADENA STAR-NEWS, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE
LOBBY MEXICO ON EXTRADITION - PASADENA STAR-NEWS, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, WHITTIER DAILY NEWS