MINUTES 
                                           
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE 
                           Subcommittee on Border Affairs 
                            Wednesday, February 14, 2001 
                           2:00 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                                   Senate Chamber 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business &  
         Commerce was held on Wednesday, February 14, 2001, in the Senate  
         Chamber at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator John Carona 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair introduced the committee and the committee staff. 
          
         The chair laid out the proposed rules, noted removal of draft  
         rule #15.  Senator Shapleigh moved for adoption of the  
         subcommittee rules.  There being no objection, the rules were  
         adopted at 2:07 p.m. 
          
         The chair presented remarks regarding the history of the  
         committee, and the issue of the transportation along the NAFTA  
         corridor.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Shapleigh made statements regarding infrastructure and  
         transportation.   
          
         Chairman John W. Johnson of the Texas Transportation Commission  
         testified on border transportation issues. 
          
         Assistant Executive Director of TX Dot for Border Trade and  
         Transportation, Ed Wueste testified on border transportation  
         issues. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh asked about the level of financial support at  
         the federal level.  
         Senator Lucio asked Mr. Johnson to put in writing how much money  
  
         is appropriated to Texas from the federal government for border  
         transportation concerns. 
          
         Secretary of State Henry Cuellar testified on border  
         transportation issues.   
          
         Senator Shapleigh left at 2:50 p.m.  
          
         Major Coy Clanton of the Department of Public Safety testified  
         on border transportation issues.   
          
         Judge Jose Eloy Pulido of Hidalgo County testified on border  
         transportation issues. 
          
         Judge Dolores Briones of El Paso testified on border  
         transportation issues. 
          
         Robert Harrison, Director of the UT Center for Transportation  
         Research testified on border transportation issues. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh returned at 3:45 
          
         Senator Lucio asked Dr. Harrison to provide in writing the top 3  
         priorities for border transportation based on his areas of  
         expertise. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh inquired about retrofitting of the "913 model"  
         to which Mr. Wueste replied that TXDOT and TTI are looking into  
         it. 
          
         At 3:55 p.m. public testimony was closed. 
          
         At 3:56 p.m. Senator Shapleigh moved that the committee stand  
         recessed until subject to call of the chair.; without objection,  
         it was so ordered.