SRC-CTC S.C.R. 9 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.C.R. 9
77R1996 RVH-DBy: Shapleigh
Business & Commerce
1/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST

The daily flow of international trade through Texas via the international
bridges and border crossings along the Rio Grande under the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) involves many different interests and
interactions among various entities, each with its own set of short and
long-term goals.  Coordinating these interests into a comprehensive plan to
address current and future needs for infrastructure improvement can be
difficult.  Local governments should have the option to create regional
authorities to identify and administer projects to enhance trade activities
at the border.  The Senate Interim Committee on NAFTA recommended to the
76th Texas Legislature that it consider authorizing the creation of 19
border port authorities to aid in meeting certain needs of the border
region.  A border port authority would have certain powers and authority to
complete projects that address demands placed on the current
infrastructure.  The creation of a border port authority on the
Texas-Mexico border would require a cooperative arrangement and
participation between the United States, Mexico, and the affected state and
local governments of both countries. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.C.R. 9 submits the following resolutions:

Authorizes the 77th Legislature to urge the United State Congress to take
steps to further the creation of port authorities along  the Texas-Mexico
border.  Provides that the Texas secretary of state forward official copies
of this resolution to the president of the United States, the speaker of
the house of representatives, the president of the senate of the United
States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas congressional
delegation to request that this resolution be officially entered in the
Congressional Record.