81R4647 CBE-D

By: Lucio III, Alonzo, Burnam H.C.R. No. 75

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Lower Rio Grande Valley region of Texas is one of the state's treasured gems; a well-known agricultural center, the valley also boasts a dynamic economy, a unique border culture, and some of the most biologically diverse habitats in the country; yet the construction of a fence along the Texas-Mexico border is putting the very viability of the area at stake; and

WHEREAS, The Secure Fence Act of 2006 calls for "at least two layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors" along more than 700 miles of the southern border of the United States, including the last 100 miles of the Rio Grande; the stated goal of the act is to "achieve operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders," but even the Department of Homeland Security concedes that fencing will not stop illegal crossings and that, at best, it will merely slow crossers down; and

WHEREAS, A border wall would negatively impact a broad array of valley residents; farmers would be cut off from their primary source of water, the Rio Grande, and business owners would lose a significant portion of their customer base, Mexican nationals who cross the border year-round to shop; many landowners would be forced to relinquish their property, and a considerable number of valley residents would be separated from relatives on the other side of the river; and

WHEREAS, Perhaps most vulnerable of all would be the natural environment; millions of dollars and countless hours of work have been spent restoring the river corridor; such protected sites as the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and World Birding Center, Sabal Palm Audubon Center and Sanctuary, the NABA International Butterfly Park, and the Lennox Foundation Southmost Preserve today support 20 endangered species and provide a vital stopover for millions of migrating birds, bats, and butterflies; and

WHEREAS, The area draws nearly 200,000 wildlife tourists each year, bringing some $150 million into otherwise impoverished communities; the erection of a fence in this region would directly impact critical wildlife habitat, increase soil erosion along the floodplain, and eliminate wildlife access to the Rio Grande, the only reliable source of fresh water around; and

WHEREAS, The Congressional Research Service estimates that a 700-mile fence, including repairs and maintenance, would cost up to $49 billion over the course of 25 years; for a relatively inefficient method of border security, this is simply not a sound investment of taxpayer funds; in addition, our federal officials must be made to realize that erecting a border fence will send a flagrantly undiplomatic message to Mexico and will bring irrevocable cultural, economic, and ecological losses to the Rio Grande Valley; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas hereby urge the Congress of the United States to explore alternative means to border security in South Texas other than the fencing described in the Secure Fence Act; and, be it further

RESOLVED, 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 and the president of the senate of the United States Congress, and to 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.