MINUTES 
                                           
               SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE 
                              Wednesday, July 7, 2004 
                                     10:30 a.m. 
                                 San Antonio, Texas 
                                           
                                       ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on International  
         Relations and Trade was held on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 in the  
         San Antonio City Council Chamber in San Antonio, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Kevin Eltife                    Senator John Carona 
         Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Kel Seliger 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair and members gave opening remarks. 
          
         Local officials then gave welcoming remarks. 
          
         The chair laid out the proposed committee rules.  Senator Estes  
         moved adoption of the proposed rules.  Senator Seliger seconded  
         the motion.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0  
         nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.     
          
         Senator Eltife moved approval of the minutes from the previous  
         hearing held on March 4, 2004; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  
          
         The committee then heard testimony on the interim charges.   
         Witnesses testifying at the hearing are shown on the attached  
         list. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:55 p.m., the chair moved  
         that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of the  
         chair; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         _____________________ 
         Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair 
          
         _____________________ 
  
         Laura Garcia, Clerk