MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER AFFAIRS - SPECIAL
Thursday, April 27, 2000
8:00 a.m.
McAllen City Hall
*****
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 Thursday, April 27, 2000, in the
McAllen City Hall, McAllen, Texas.
*****
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
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Lucio asked for approval of the Border Affairs minutes
from March 22nd and April 12th. Senator Sibley moved approval
of the minutes; without objection, the minutes were approved.
Chairman Lucio gave opening remarks.
Senator Sibley, Senator Zaffirini, and Senator Shapleigh gave
opening remarks.
Mayor Leo Montalvo, representing the City of McAllen, gave
welcoming remarks.
Judge Eloy Pulido, representing Hidalgo County, gave welcoming
remarks.
Mr. Steve Ahlenius, representing the McAllen Chamber of
Commerce, gave welcoming remarks.
Mr. Mike Allen, representing the McAllen Economic Development
Corporation, gave welcoming remarks.
Ms. Elva Garza, representing the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce,
gave welcoming remarks.
Mayor Lonnie Flores, representing the City of Donna, gave
welcoming remarks.
Ms. Perla Sandoval, representing the Donna Chamber of Commerce,
gave welcoming remarks.
Ms. Viola Espinoza, representing the Mission Chamber of
Commerce, gave welcoming remarks.
Ms. Martha Noell, representing the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce,
gave welcoming remarks.
Ms. Tammy Cuellar, representing the Pharr Chamber of Commerce,
gave welcoming remarks.
Mr. Larry Dovalina, representing the City of Laredo, testified
on interim charge #5.
Ms. Cynthia Collazo, representing the City of Laredo, testified
on interim charge #5.
At 9:15 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
At 9:17 a.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Senator Zaffirini recognized Mr. Jaime Flores, City Manager of
Laredo. Senator Zaffirini stated her strong opposition to
calling a two-stop inspection facility a one-stop facility.
Chairman Lucio recognized Mr. Richard Cortez, representing the
Valley Partnership. Mr. Cortez had to leave but Chairman Lucio
wanted to thank him for bringing gifts on behalf of the Valley
Partnership. He also thanked all the Chambers for the gifts
they brought for the Committee Members.
Judge Eloy Pulido, representing Hidalgo County, testified on the
interim charges.
Senator Shapleigh asked for a motion that the Committee send a
letter to the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation asking them for data on funding and accessing mental
health. Without objection, the motion carried.
At 10:02 a.m. the Committee stood at ease for the press
conference on Senate Bill 1421.
At 10:41 a.m. the Committee reconvened.
Mr. Glen Roney, representing the South Texas Center for Rural
Public Health, testified on interim charge #3 and on education.
Mayor Ricardo Medina, representing the City of Pharr, testified
on the interim charges.
Mr. Wayne A. Showers, representing the Texas A&M University
System and SRDH, testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Craig Pederson, representing the Texas Water Development
Board, testified on interim charge #2.
Dr. Brian Smith, representing the Texas Department of Health,
testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Clint Winters, representing the Texas Comptroller of Public
Accounts, testified on interim charge #1.
Mr. Augustin Redwine, representing the Texas Comptroller of
Public Accounts, testified on interim charge #1.
Mr. Amadeo Saenz, representing the Texas Department of
Transportation, testified on interim charge #1.
Mr. Mike Allen, representing the McAllen Economic Development
Corporation, testified on interim charge #1.
Mr. Robert G. Farris, representing the Valley Transit Company &
Texas Business Association, testified on interim charge #1.
Mr. Andrew Ramirez Robertson, representing the Border Water
Works, testified on interim charge #2 and #5.
Mr. Scott Storment, representing the Office of the Secretary of
State, testified on interim charge #2.
Ms. Diana Borja, representing the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission, testified on interim charge #2.
At 1:06 p.m. the Committee stood at ease.
At 2:13 p.m. the Committee reconvened.
Mr. Rene Guerra, representing Hidalgo County, testified on
interim charge #1.
Mr. David Preister, representing the Texas Attorney General's
Office, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Eddie Cavazos, representing the ALTIVIA Corporation,
testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Glenn Jarvis, representing self, testified on interim charge
#2.
Mr. Jo Jo White, representing the Rio Grande Valley Integration
District Managers Association, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Jimmy Steidinger, representing self, testified on interim
charge #2.
Senator Shapleigh made a motion that the Committee write a
letter to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and
request the Commission's assistance on behalf of area farmers to
provide them the water relief they desperately need. Without
objection, the motion carried.
Senator Shapleigh made a motion that the International Boundary
Water Commission provide the Committee with data in regards to
the water quality in the Rio Grande Valley. He asked that it be
presented to the Committee at the Brownsville hearing. Without
objection, the motion carried.
Mr. Charles Allan Jones, representing the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station and Extension Service, testified on interim
charge #2.
Mr. Chuck Phinney, representing the Texas Engineering Extension
Service, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Kermit Black, representing the Texas A&M University, Center
for Housing and Urban Development, testified on interim charge
#2.
Mr. David Luna, representing the Health and Human Services
Commission, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Larry Rincones, representing the Texas A&M University,
testified on interim charge #2.
Ms. Gale Armstrong, representing El Jardin Water Supply
Corporation, testified on interim charge #2.
Senator Shapleigh requested that the University Systems report
to the Border Affairs Committee every center they may have, or
may be affiliated with, that study Border issues and include
their funding levels. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Mr. Ron Tupper, representing Texas A&M University, testified on
interim charge #3.
Dr. Ramiro Casso, representing self and South Texas Community
College, testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Lauro G. Guerra, representing the City of Public Health,
testified on interim charge #3.
Dr. Ciro V. Sumaya, representing the Texas A&M University System
Health Science Center, testified on interim charge #3. Chairman
Lucio asked for Dr. Sumaya's written remarks.
Senator Shapleigh asked for Mr. Harold Siglar's written
testimony on CHIPS and medicaid reimbursement rates.
Mr. Don Hoyte, representing the Texas Comptroller of Public
Accounts, testified on interim charge #4.
Ms. Pamela Rogers, representing the Texas Department of Economic
Development, testified on interim charge #4.
Mr. Steve Ahlenius, representing the McAllen Chamber of
Commerce, testified on interim charge #4.
Ms. Wanda Garza, representing the South Texas Community College
and the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition, testified on
interim charge #4.
Mr. Thomas Wingate, representing the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Workforce Development, testified on interim charge #4.
Mr. Carlos Herrera, representing the Rio Grande Workforce
Development Board, testified on interim charge #4.
Mr. Adam Daniec, representing self, testified on interim charge
#2. Chairman Lucio asked for his testimony in writing.
There being no further business, at 6:03 a.m. Senator Lucio, Jr.
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair
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Stephanie R. Hoover, Clerk