Raising concern about the constitutional reforms in Mexico.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 454 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 454

      Raising concern about the constitutional reforms in Mexico.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 29, 2025

   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 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 
        $896,000,000,000 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 the Government of Mexico has actively taken steps to expropriate assets 
        owned by American companies;
Whereas former Mexican President Lopez Obrador proposed constitutional reforms 
        on February 5, 2024, including specific proposals to modify the 
        structure of the Mexican judiciary, including popular election of judges 
        and justices;
Whereas Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has continued to advance these 
        constitutional reforms;
Whereas reforms regarding the judicial system became law on September 15, 2024;
Whereas Mexican judicial branch employees, including judges, magistrates, and 
        others at the Federal, State, and local levels, initiated a widespread 
        and indefinite strike on August 21, 2024, in response to judicial 
        reforms;
Whereas Mexico's National Association of Circuit and District Judges, the 
        Mexican Bar Association, 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 reforms;
Whereas, under 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;
Whereas broader constitutional reforms to--

    (1) eliminate autonomous institutions overseeing social development 
policy and education; the energy, hydrocarbon, and telecommunications 
industries; and enforcement of antitrust and transparency laws became law 
on December 20, 2024;

    (2) impose a prohibition on genetically modified corn became law on 
March 17, 2025; and

    (3) reduce the size, oversight capacity, and sanctions authority of 
Mexico's National Electoral Institute will be considered in 2025; and

Whereas secondary legislation to enact such constitutional changes presents an 
        ongoing opportunity for change: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) raises concern that the constitutional reforms and 
        secondary legislation 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 
        independent oversight agencies;
            (2) expresses deep concern that the constitutional reforms 
        and secondary legislation 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 and weakening North American economic 
        integration;
            (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.
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