FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2001
CONTACT: Lisette McSoud Mondello
DOMENICI, HUTCHISON INTRODUCE
BORDER CROSSING IMPROVEMENT BILL
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Overcrowded and inadequate ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border would receive a $585 million boost over the next five years to make key facility improvements under a bill introduced by Senators Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas).
The senators noted that since the passage of North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, trade between the United States and Mexico has nearly doubled – from $100 billion to $197 billion in 1999. Nearly 86 percent of this trade is transported by trucks.
"Modern ports with adequate facilities are critical to ensuring the smooth flow of goods and services across the U.S.-Mexico border," Senator Hutchison said. "Mexico is our second-largest trading partner, but many of our port facilities date to the 1950s and do not reflect the increasing truck traffic across our southern border."
"It is imperative to improve the Southwest border's inadequate infrastructure and design," Senator Domenici said. "We must act to ensure continued national growth while working to improve the health and environment of border residents."
The Domenici-Hutchison legislation would:
- Authorize $500 million for the U.S. Customs Service to implement plans for new construction at the land ports at the Southwest border once the agency updates its blueprint plan "Ports of Entry Infrastructure Assessment Study;"
- Establish a grant to reduce negative environmental impacts associated with cross-border transportation. Initial funding would be $75 million. The program would be administered by the North American Development Bank;
- Establish a demonstration port for the Customs Service to set up and test new port technologies. The bill provides $10 million in funding for fiscal year 2002.
"These ports of entry are the linchpin for our border's commerce and our efforts to curtail the flow of illegal drugs into our country," Senator Hutchison said. "This bill aims to strengthen these ports by assessing exact infrastructure needs, then providing the money to implement the needed changes."
"Trade with Mexico allows U.S. businesses to benefit from the comparative advantages of our two nations," Senator Domenici said. "But significant congestion reduces gains from trade since it detrimentally affects ‘just in time' capability. Further, long waits at our ports detract from tourism reducing tourist dollars for both nations."
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