FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2001
CONTACT: Lisette Mondello
SENATOR HUTCHISON SAYS CONGRESS PLANS
TO BEEF UP BORDER INSPECTION FACILITIES
($103 million-plus targeted for border station infrastructure and inspectors)
LAREDO, TX -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison said Tuesday that Congress intends to provide more than $103 million for border inspection stations, inspectors and other border infrastructure improvements designed to ensure that all commercial vehicles can be inspected without lengthy delays. Most of the funding is targeted toward Texas' border with Mexico.
"I am going to do everything I can to see that Texas border stations get the funding they need to inspect cross-border traffic quickly and efficiently," Senator Hutchison said at Bridge 4 in Laredo.
"The funding measure reflects our commitment to full implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement," said Senator Hutchison, who had pushed for full funding for cross-border inspection efforts. "These funds put us on the road toward hiring and training enough inspectors to thoroughly inspect the ever-increasing amount of truck traffic NAFTA is creating. Parity in trucking is an important part of the NAFTA accords."
Nearly 70 percent of current truck traffic coming from Mexico into the United States enters Texas, impacting roads and state inspection facilities to a greater extent than any other state. Texas witnessed 2.4 million crossings of Mexican trucks last year. Nearly one-third of all truck traffic crossing from Mexico into the United States goes through Laredo.
The appropriations measure would provide for border crossing and inspection infrastructure improvements, funding to hire and train more inspectors, as well as funding to strengthen state inspection efforts.
Senator Hutchison, a member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, is the former vice-chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.
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