By Truan                                               S.C.R. No. 3
         76R1919 RVH-D                           
                                CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Importers and exporters participating in the North
 1-2     American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) currently must submit
 1-3     nonstandardized data and documents to the governments and various
 1-4     agencies of the United States, Mexico, and Canada and navigate
 1-5     through each of these countries' unique customs processes[]; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The inherent inefficiency in using nonstandardized
 1-7     data and varied trade processes delays the release of commerce,
 1-8     creates a massive blockade of truck traffic along Texas' border
 1-9     communities, and ultimately increases the cost of international
1-10     trade[]; and
1-11           WHEREAS, NAFTA provisions require participating countries to
1-12     cooperate in efforts to standardize data elements, set an
1-13     international data syntax, facilitate the exchange of information,
1-14     and generally harmonize customs processes; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Working toward establishing these trade standards,
1-16     the three countries developed a trinational electronic commerce
1-17     initiative called the North American Trade Automation Prototype
1-18     (NATAP) and tested it at six United States border locations,
1-19     including El Paso and Laredo, during the period between April 1,
1-20     1997, and March 31, 1998; and
1-21           WHEREAS, NATAP used a standard data transaction record,
1-22     communications through the Internet, and several Intelligent
1-23     Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies already tested by the
1-24     Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), such as
 2-1     transponder/radio frequency identification devices, to automate,
 2-2     streamline, and expedite the customs clearance of cargo, the
 2-3     immigration status of drivers, toll collection, and the safety
 2-4     inspections of commercial motor vehicles; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, The new federal transportation spending bill has set
 2-6     aside $140 million for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2003
 2-7     for two programs relating to international trade, including the
 2-8     Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program which allocates money to
 2-9     border states for projects such as those demonstrated by NATAP that
2-10     improve the safe movement of people and goods across national
2-11     borders; and
2-12           WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Transportation has the
2-13     preeminent qualifications to assist the state's leadership in
2-14     identifying infrastructure improvement needs in the border areas
2-15     and in directing the appropriation of funds secured from the
2-16     Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program; and
2-17           WHEREAS, The NATAP initiative and the complementary use of a
2-18     variety of ITS technologies highlight the potential for the
2-19     electronic processing of international commerce and demonstrate how
2-20     the efficiency  of automated trade can benefit both governments and
2-21     traders by expediting the commercial truck traffic, and ultimately
2-22     lowering the cost of conducting trade; now, therefore, be it
2-23           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-24     hereby direct the Texas Department of Transportation to increase
2-25     its efforts to employ NATAP and other new technology to expedite
2-26     truck traffic at border crossings; and, be it further
2-27           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
 3-1     copy of this resolution to the director of the Texas Department of
 3-2     Transportation.