200th Anniversary of United States and Mexico Bilateral Relations

Floor Speech

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Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, on December 12, 1822, Jose Manuel Zozaya y Bermudez presented his credentials as Mexico's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to U.S. President James Monroe, which established formal relations between our two countries.

On December 12, 2022, the United States and Mexico celebrated the 200th anniversary of our bilateral relations. Our relations with Mexico remain strong and vital, based on mutual respect as sovereign states. Mexico remains one of the United States' closest and most valued partners. Our bilateral relationship directly benefits the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans and Mexicans, whether the issue is trade and economic development, educational and cultural exchange, citizen security, control of illicit drugs, migration, human trafficking, entrepreneurship, innovation, environmental protection, climate change, or public health.

The scope of relations between the United States and Mexico extends beyond diplomacy. It encompasses extensive commercial, cultural, educational, and familial ties. Our countries share a 2,000-mile border with 47 active land ports of entry. Hundreds of thousands of people cross the border legally each day, strengthening people-to-people ties and deepening our integration. In addition, an estimated 1.6 million U.S. citizens live in Mexico, and nearly 40 million persons of Mexican descent reside in the United States. The U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group has been held regularly since 1961 to bring together legislators from both countries to discuss priority issues and identify ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Although our countries share a great number of ties, without a doubt, our peoples represent our strongest, deepest and most lasting bond, which will unite us forever. The bicentennial celebration serves as an opportunity to honor our personal ties and our shared history, while affirming our commitment to build a brighter future for our two nations.

As the United States and Mexico reflect on 200 years of bilateral relations, we must celebrate the greatness of our peoples and commit to seize the opportunities ahead of us. The bicentennial allows us to reflect on our historical ties and grants us an opportunity to build on our shared priorities: economic prosperity, clean energy, security, migration, and our mutual understanding of one another.

The United States and Mexico have enduring connections encompassing all aspects of life. As we address our shared challenges and work together for a prosperous future, we celebrate this era of cooperation and respect. This anniversary allows us to reflect on the past and more importantly, to chart a course for the future.

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