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.