1-1 By: Oliveira (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.C.R. No. 18 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 9, 1999; 1-3 April 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Special Committee 1-4 on Border Affairs; May 7, 1999, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 7, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border has always been a key 1-8 transportation corridor for international commerce, and since the 1-9 implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 1-10 trade activity between the United States and Mexico has increased 1-11 significantly; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The number of commercial truck crossings from Mexico 1-13 to Texas has increased by 88 percent for an average annual increase 1-14 of 17.2 percent; 80 percent of the value of United States exports 1-15 to Mexico pass through Texas' land ports of entry; and 1-16 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Public Safety has 1-17 implemented an excellent program designed to increase enforcement 1-18 capabilities and presence at the border in order to address the 1-19 increase of traffic; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The increase in crossings has escalated the need for 1-21 compliance by Mexican truckers with American truck safety 1-22 standards; the adherence to American trucking standards by Mexican 1-23 truckers operating in America is essential to maintaining safe 1-24 trucking standards in the United States; now, therefore, be it 1-25 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-26 hereby urge the United States Department of Transportation to 1-27 provide additional funding for the Texas Department of Public 1-28 Safety to increase manpower at the border to perform truck 1-29 inspections; and, be it further 1-30 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 1-31 copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the United States 1-32 Department of Transportation. 1-33 * * * * *