MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER AFFAIRS - SPECIAL
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
9:00 a.m.
Texas A&M International University
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Border
Affairs - Special was held on Wednesday, January 12, 2000, at
Texas A&M International University in Laredo.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Teel Bivins
Senator David Sibley Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Judith Zaffirini
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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:16 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Lucio gave opening remarks.
Members of the Senate Committee on Border Affairs gave opening
remarks.
Mr. Ignacio Madera, representing the Texas Water Development
Board, testified on interim charges #2 and #5.
Mr. Charles Johnson, representing the County of Dimmit,
testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Fernando Roman, representing the City of Laredo, testified
on interim charge #2.
Mr. Jeff Saitas, representing the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission, testified on interim charge #2.
At 9:55 a.m. Senator Sibley assumed the chair.
At 10:05 a.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Mr. Jorge Garces, representing the Office of the Secretary of
State, testified on interim charges #2 and #5.
Mr. Alfredo Ramirez, representing the Office of the Secretary of
State, testified on interim charges #2 and #5.
Chairman Lucio asked the witnesses to talk with the Colonia
Ombudsmen and to develop recommendations about how the
legislature can improve SB 1421 by the end of the interim
hearings.
Ms. Elizabeth Rhodes, representing the Texas A&M International
University, Center of Housing and Urban Development, testified
on interim charges # 3 and #5.
Senator Zaffirini asked the witness to research how promotoras
can help provide transportation services to colonia children
when school buses can't reach them because of flooded, unpaved
streets.
Mr. James Earhart, representing the Rio Grande International
Study Center, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Tom Vaughan, representing Texas A&M International
University, testified on interim charge #2.
At 10:58 a.m. Senator Sibley assumed the chair.
At 11:12 a.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Mr. Roberto Ramos, representing the International Boundary and
Water Commission, Laredo office, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Fernando Roman, representing the City of Laredo, testified
on interim charge #2.
Senator Zaffirini asked the witness to report to the committee
about whether the City of Laredo's emergency response plan is
binational.
Commissioner Rick Reyes, representing Webb County, testified on
interim charges #2 and #5.
Mr. Adrian Ramirez, representing Zapata County, testified on
interim charges #2 and #5.
Mr. Jesus Sanchez, representing the Union De Colonias Olvidadas,
testified on interim charges #2 and #5.
Ms. Ruth Cedillo, representing the Texas Department of Housing
and Community Affairs, testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Ignacio Madera, representing the Texas Water Development
Board, testified on interim charges #2 and #5.
Mr. David Marquez, representing Affordable Housing, testified on
interim charges #2 and #5.
Mr. Keith Selman, representing the City of Laredo, testified on
interim charge #5.
Ms. Jacqueline Garcia, representing the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs, was recognized as a resource
witness.
At 12:30 p.m. Chairman Lucio moved that the committee stand at
ease until 1:30 p.m.; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:30 p.m. the meeting reconvened.
Mr. Jorge Garces, representing the Office of the Secretary of
State, testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Ed Wueste, representing the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT), testified on interim charge #5.
Chairman Lucio asked TxDOT to develop a report of all
discretionary funds that are made available to the Agency.
Mayor Elizabeth "Betty" Flores, representing the City of Laredo,
testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Mauricio Cantu, representing the Texas Department of Public
Safety (DPS), testified on interim charge #5.
Senator Zaffirini expressed hope that DPS will work with Nuevo
Laredo cargo companies to implement a model international
inspection and certification system for trucks.
Mr. Augustin Redwine, representing the Office of the Texas
Comptroller, testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Don Hoyte, representing the Office of the Texas Comptroller,
testified on interim charge #5.
Ms. Becky Pestana, representing the Office of the Texas Attorney
General, testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Raul Perales, representing Fasken, LTD, testified on interim
charge #5.
Commissioner William Archer, representing the Texas Department
of Health, testified on interim charge #3.
At 2:50 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
At 3:20 p.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Senator Shapleigh asked the Chairman if the Department of Health
could look at the International Boundary and Water Commission
Study of 1997 and get back to the Committee with some of their
findings. It was so ordered.
Ms. Sylvia McMullen, representing the Safe Tire Disposal of
Texas, testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Scot Holden, representing the Safe Tire Disposal of Texas,
testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Jeff Saitas, representing the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission, testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Danny Abirra, representing the Safe Tire Disposal of Texas,
testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Steve Rosenbaum, representing the Rubber Recycling
Resources, testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Abraham Martinez, representing the Doctors Hospital of
Laredo, testified on interim charge #3.
Dr. Bernardo Ramirez, representing the Centro de Salud,
testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Mark Stauder, representing the Mercy Health Systems of
Texas, testified on interim charge #3.
Ms. Susan Baker, representing the Canseco School of Nursing,
testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Paul Villas, representing The University of Texas System
Border Health Office, testified on interim charge #3.
At 5:24 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
At 5:30 p.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Mr. Jerry Robinson, representing the City of Laredo and the Webb
County Health Department, testified on interim charge #3.
Commissioner Diane Rath, representing the Texas Workforce
Commission, testified on interim charge #4.
Ms. Linda Flores, representing the United Independent School
District, testified on interim charge #4.
Mr. Miguel Conchas, representing the Laredo Chamber of Commerce,
testified on interim charge #4.
Ms. Rose Delgado, representing the Laredo Development
Foundation, testified on interim charge #4.
Mr. Michael Patrick, representing the Texas A&M International
University, the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise
Development, testified on interim charge #4.
Mr. Elmer Buckley, representing the South Texas Workforce
Development Board, testified on interim charge #4.
There being no further business, at 6:42 p.m. Chairman Lucio
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair
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Stephanie R. Hoover, Clerk