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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant |
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Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that the United States issue |
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machine-readable biometric Border Crossing Cards, also called |
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"laser visas," for use by Mexican nationals visiting the United |
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States, and today most Mexican visitors to our country receive a |
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laser visa; and |
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WHEREAS, Laser visa applicants undergo a thorough security |
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screening process before receiving a visa and provide |
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identification data that is encoded on the visa and that can be |
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verified by biometric authentication technologies, providing a |
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reliable system to allow temporary, fully screened visitors to |
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enter our country from Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the length of stay allowed Mexican |
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nationals with laser visas was extended in 2004 by the United States |
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Congress from three to 30 days, the current law falls far short of |
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parity with Canadian visitors, who do not use laser visas and who |
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may stay in this country for up to six months; and |
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WHEREAS, Providing Mexican tourists, businesspersons, and |
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other short-term visitors the same opportunities to visit and do |
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business in the United States as their Canadian counterparts would |
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increase economic development in Texas border communities and |
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promote goodwill between the United States and Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, The Secure Border Crossing Card Entry Act of 2007, |
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introduced in the 110th Congress by Senator John Cornyn and |
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Representative Henry Cuellar (S. 422 and H.R. 702, respectively), |
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extends the length of stay for Mexican visitors using a laser visa |
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from 30 days to six months, or parity with Canadian visitors; and |
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WHEREAS, Extending the length of stay permitted Mexican |
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visitors using laser visas to full parity with Canadian visitors |
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supports the economic needs of Texas and successfully balances |
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national security with the benefits of legitimate trade and travel; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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Regular Session, hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the |
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United States to enact the Secure Border Crossing Card Entry Act of |
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2007; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the |
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senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the |
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Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this |
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resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |