SRC-AMY C.S.S.C.R. 20 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.C.R. 20
78R3607 CLE-DBy: Shapleigh
International Relations and Trade
4-3-2003
Committee Report (Amended)

DIGEST 

Mexico is the United States' second-largest trading partner, and,
according to the Center for Transportation Research at the University of
Texas at Austin, 76 percent of all United States' trade with Mexico passes
through Texas.  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records
confirm that Texas has seven of the nation's 10 busiest southern border
crossings, with 12,000 trucks transporting $290 million in goods through
Texas ports of entry and border commercial zones, daily.  Under the North
American Free Trade Agreement the border is open to Mexican long-haul
carriers for travel within the United States, and the United States
Department of Transportation reports a direct correlation between the
condition of Mexican trucks and the level of inspection resources at the
border.  Texas does not have permanent border safety inspection facilities
that ensure compliance with state and federal safety standards, only
temporary state facilities and federal customs lots.  In 1999 the 77th
Texas Legislature passed legislation regarding the establishment of
one-stop border inspection stations for federal, state, and municipal
agencies that regulate cross-border traffic, providing a single point of
contact between motorcarriers and government regulators and information on
regulatory requirements. The onestop stations would also prevent
duplication of inspections, facilitate links in government information
systems, and reduce crossing times to 10 minutes.  Each municipality where
the onestop facilities will be located is unique and has different
concerns to be addressed. Specifically regarding Laredo, federal and state
entities should work in collaboration.   Decisions made in Washington in
the coming months will define border commerce for the next 10 years,
affecting trade, highway damage prevention, environmental protection, and
drug interdiction. 


PURPOSE

As proposed, SCR 20 submits the following resolutions:

That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas urges the Congress of the
United States to fund one-stop border vehicle inspection facilities. That
the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to
the president of the United States, to the speaker of the house of
representatives, the president of the United States Congress, and all the
members of the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this
resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial
to the Congress of the United States of America. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1:

1) On page 2, line 15, insert the following language: "WHEREAS, each
municipality where the one-stop facilities will be located is unique and
has different concerns that must be addressed, such as the location of the
facility, whether international commerce would be impeded, whether traffic
congestion and pollution would be increased, whether all incoming traffic
would be treated the same and whether local participation would be
prioritized; and WHEREAS, specifically regarding the City of Laredo,
federal and state entities should work in collaboration with
municipalities and enter into agreements that state that the location,
plans and implementation strategy for the proposed facilities are
acceptable to all parties involves; and"