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.
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