By Munoz                                              H.C.R. No. 93
       74R5935 KMP-D
                                 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, In the worthwhile effort to raise funds to prevent
    1-2  illegal immigration, some national leaders have proposed that the
    1-3  United States levy a crossing fee on those who legally traverse the
    1-4  Texas-Mexico border; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, This proposal would levy fees of $1.50 per
    1-6  pedestrian and $3 per vehicle, fees that would fall primarily on
    1-7  residents of South Texas and Mexico who regularly cross the border
    1-8  to conduct business transactions, purchase goods and services, and
    1-9  visit friends and family members; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, The imposition of this fee has drawn fervent protest
   1-11  from small business people on both sides of the border who are the
   1-12  lifeblood of international commerce and who are instrumental to the
   1-13  success of the North American Free Trade Agreement; the fee is yet
   1-14  another obstacle to the free flow of ideas, goods, and services
   1-15  between the United States and Mexico; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, This proposal also is inherently unfair to residents
   1-17  of border communities who strive to improve commercial and cultural
   1-18  relations between our two nations, and who already bear a
   1-19  disproportionate share of the costs arising from illegal
   1-20  immigration; now, therefore, be it
   1-21        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-22  hereby respectfully urge the president of the United States to
   1-23  reconsider proposals to levy a border crossing fee at the
   1-24  Texas-Mexico border; and, be it further
    2-1        RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an
    2-2  official copy of this resolution to the president of the United
    2-3  States.