MINUTES 
                                           
                SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & TRADE 
                            Wednesday, February 23, 2005 
                           1:30 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 International  
         Relations & Trade was held on Wednesday, February 23, 2005, in  
         the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                None 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator John Carona 
         Senator Kevin Eltife 
         Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Kel Seliger 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 1:37 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The Chair introduced the Committee staff.  
          
         The Chair laid out the proposed committee rules and Senator  
         Estes moved that the committee rules be adopted.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  
                    
         There being no further business, at 1:46 p.m. the Chair recessed  
         the Committee subject to the call of the chair.   
          
         ____________________________ 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         LeAnn Gallegos, Clerk