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By: Anchia (Senate Sponsor - Carona) |
H.C.R. No. 80 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 20, 2013; |
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May 20, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Business |
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and Commerce; May 21, 2013, reported favorably by the following |
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vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2013, sent to printer.) |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Since the implementation of the North American Free |
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Trade Agreement in 1994, trade between the United States and Mexico |
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has risen dramatically, and as the volume of goods crossing the |
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border has increased, so have wait times at points of entry; and |
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WHEREAS, Mexico is our state's largest trade partner and the |
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nation's third-largest trade partner; in 2012, more than $229 |
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billion in trade passed through the Laredo customs district and |
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over $86 billion passed through the El Paso customs district; |
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moreover, the United States and Mexican economies are profoundly |
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linked because many products are manufactured jointly in Mexico and |
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the United States, and materials and parts often cross back and |
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forth between factories on each side of the border during assembly; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The free flow of commerce across the Mexican border |
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is of critical importance, but the capacity of the ports of entry to |
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accommodate the increase in traffic has not kept pace with the |
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expansion of trade; long and unpredictable wait times leave |
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vehicles idling for hours during peak times, having a negative |
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impact on the environment and the health of people living near the |
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border, as well as on the economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Congestion at points of entry along the border costs |
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the United States and Mexico billions of dollars each year, and |
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increasing efficiency at these crucial corridors would be a |
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tremendous benefit to the prosperity of our state and nation; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house |
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of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study the |
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effects on international trade of wait times at Texas points of |
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entry between the United States and Mexico; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including |
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findings and recommendations, to the 84th Texas Legislature when it |
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convenes in January 2015. |
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