S.C.R. No. 66
                             SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, The United States Department of Defense and the
    1-2  United States Department of Transportation are jointly undertaking
    1-3  an initiative to design and construct a state of the art,
    1-4  military/private sector dual-use intermodal transportation facility
    1-5  at or near an existing military installation; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, The El Paso region is uniquely situated to be
    1-7  selected as the site for the pilot project of the Intermodal
    1-8  Installation Program by virtue of the proximity of Biggs Army
    1-9  Airfield to El Paso International Airport and a planned air cargo
   1-10  center and regional railroad hub, as well as existing and planned
   1-11  highways and other surface transportation links in the El
   1-12  Paso-Southern New Mexico region; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, The El Paso site has advantages over competing areas
   1-14  in that it is strategically located on the United States-Mexico
   1-15  border equidistant to the Gulf Coast and Pacific Coast; El Paso
   1-16  sits at the crossroads of three interstate highways and has
   1-17  excellent rail connections to all areas of the continent; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, Biggs Army Airfield and El Paso International
   1-19  Airport are located virtually side-by-side, and together they offer
   1-20  unmatched air transportation facilities to support any type of
   1-21  military or civilian aircraft operations; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Fort Bliss has 1.1 million acres of maneuver,
   1-23  training, and range areas that can accommodate any land-based
    2-1  weapon system and, adjoining the White Sands Missile Range, it
    2-2  affords ample area for military operations; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, The El Paso region is the only site within Texas
    2-4  being considered for location of the Intermodal Installation
    2-5  Program pilot project facility; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Development of a model site for the Intermodal
    2-7  Installation Program in El Paso could entail total investment
    2-8  approaching $350 million with a substantial portion of these funds
    2-9  being invested by the federal government; now, therefore, be it
   2-10        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-11  hereby declare its support of the El Paso region as the pilot site
   2-12  for the Intermodal Installation Program; and, be it further
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the Legislature of the State of Texas hereby
   2-14  direct all state agencies to provide whatever support and
   2-15  assistance is necessary to enable the El Paso region to secure
   2-16  selection as the pilot project site for the Intermodal Installation
   2-17  Program; and, be it further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
   2-19  and forwarded by the Texas Secretary of State to the United States
   2-20  Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and all
   2-21  members of the Texas congressional delegation as an expression of
   2-22  the sentiment of the Texas Legislature.