Whereas shared cultural ties, values, and beliefs connect the citizens of the United States and Mexico and have long been the foundation from which the friendly, bilateral relationship has flourished; Whereas the United States and Mexico have benefited from a bilateral, mutually beneficial partnership focused on advancing the economic and security interests of both countries; Whereas it is in the national interests of the United States and Mexico to continue deepening economic cooperation and security cooperation; Whereas consecutive United States and Mexican administrations have increased bilateral defense and law enforcement cooperation on counterterrorism and counternarcotics issues, including the illicit trafficking of weapons, money, people, and drugs across the United States southern border; Whereas cooperation with Mexico during the administration of President Peña Nieto has led to the extradition of more than 270 individuals facing criminal charges in the United States; Whereas, the January 19, 2017, extradition of drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman to New York was a major victory for both countries that would not have been possible without a robust United States-Mexico security partnership; Whereas the Mérida Initiative was established in 2007 and enabled a new level of security cooperation between the United States and Mexico on a range of issues including efforts to combat transnational organized crime and promote justice reform; Whereas the United States and Mexico have begun cooperation to address the trafficking and production of heroin and fentanyl threatening the lives of citizens in both countries; Whereas the United States has provided almost $2.8 billion in security assistance to Mexico through the Mérida Initiative between fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2017; Whereas the United States and Mexico enjoy close diplomatic cooperation and Mexico has consistently voted with the United States at the United Nations on challenges related to Syria, North Korea, and Ukraine