Washington, D.C., Sep 18 - The 16th Annual Border Issues Conference will take place Wednesday, Sept. 19 through Thursday, Sept. 20 in Washington, D.C. Invited to participate in the conference are: Mexico Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, Texas Senator John Cornyn, Assistant Secretary William Brownfield with the Department of State, Assistant Secretary Alan Bersin with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner David Aguilar, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Rooney with the Department of State, International Boundary and Water Commission Commissioner Ed Drusina, Governor of the State of Chiapas Juan Sabines, Director General PROMEXICO Carlos Guzman, Members of Congress and other U.S. and Mexico officials.

The bipartisan conference is co-chaired by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX-16), Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28).

“The annual Border Issues Conference will once again bring the needs of the border region to the fore-front of discussion among top leaders, both from the U.S. and Mexico, and address issues faced on both sides of the border,” Congressman Reyes said. “This year’s conference will feature panels on strengthening the security cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico, improving bi-national trade, commerce, and future cooperative efforts on the Merida Initiative amid current economic and security challenges, and enhancing socioeconomic development along the southwest border.

“One of the objectives of the conference is to ensure that lawmakers and other leaders from the U.S. and Mexico continue to recognize and address the unique socioeconomic and security challenges that are confronting border communities today,” Congressman Reyes said. “I look forward to the 16th Annual Border Issues Conference and welcome our guests and panelists to Washington, D.C. I also thank my House colleagues, as well as our counterparts from Mexico and Al Zapanta and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, for their commitment to this conference for the past 16 years.”

The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is encouraged. Those interested in attending are encourage to register via this link: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e69lrfhd9337f054&oseq=

Interested news media are encouraged to RSVP by contacting Jose Borjon at jose.borjon@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-2912, (956) 459-2415.

Below is the full itinerary for the 16th Annual Border Issues Conference:

United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
XVI Annual U.S. - Mexico Congressional Border Issues Conference

Tentative Agenda

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
334 Cannon House Office Building
(Committee on Veteran’s Affairs)

6:00 – 7:30 pm     
CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION
Master of Ceremonies and Introduction of Special Guests:
Honorable Al Zapanta, President & CEO, USMCOC

Welcome Remarks Co-Chairs:
Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) **
Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) **
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) **

Guests of Honor:
Gov. Juan Sabines, Governor of the State of Chiapas **
Alan Bersin, Assistant Secretary of International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic
Officer, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) **


Thursday, September 20, 2012
Gold Room (2168), Rayburn House Office Building

9:00 – 9:30 am        
WELCOME
Honorable Al Zapanta, President & CEO, USMCOC

OPENING REMARKS BY SPECIAL GUESTS & CO-CHAIRS
Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) **
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) **

9:30 – 10:45 am        
PANEL I: ENERGY, WATER & SUSTAINABILITY

Panel Moderator:
Steve Molina, of Counsel, SNR Denton **

Congressional Co-Convener:
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

Keynote Speaker:
Sen. Manlio Fabio Beltrones, Senator of the State of Sonora
                        
Panelists:
Ed Drusina, Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission **
Matthew Rooney, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere
Affairs, U.S. Department of State **
Rafael Escandon, Director of Project Administration and Technical Services, North American
Development Bank **
George Liparidis, President & CEO, Sempra International **
Susanna Werner, Advisor, Border Energy Forum **

10:45 am – 12:00 pm    
PANEL II: TRADE, COMMERCE, & INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER

Panel Moderator:
Anne Alonzo, Vice President, Global Public Policy, Kraft Foods **

Congressional Co-Conveners
Congressman Francisco Canseco (R-TX) **

Keynote Speaker:
Sen. John Cornyn, Senator of the State of Texas **

Panelists:
David Dean, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Of Dean International,Inc. **
Carlos Guzman, Director General, PROMEXICO **
Erik Lee, Associate Director, North American Center for Transborder Studies at ASU **
Kevin K. McAleenan, Acting Assistant Commissioner, CBP Office of Field Operations **
Rachel M. Poynter, Coordinator, U.S.-Mexico Border Affairs, U.S. Department of State **
Elías Scheker Da Silva, Assistant Economist, REMI **

12:00 – 12:30 pm        
SESSION BREAK (Snacks & soft drinks will be served)

12:30 – 1:45 pm    
PANEL III: U.S.-MEXICO SECURITY COOPERATION & THE FUTURE OF THE MERIDA INITIATIVE

Moderator:  
Honorable Al Zapanta, President & CEO, USMCOC

Congressional Co-Conveners
Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) **
Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) **
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) **
              
Panelists:
David Aguilar, Acting Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State **
Arnoldo Martínez Rentería, Central Administrator for Customs Planning, Mexico Customs (SAT) **
Marilyn Quagliotti, Deputy Director for Supply Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy **
John Chrisos, Vice President of North American Sales, AS&E **
Eric Olson, Associate Director, Mexico Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center **

1:45 p.m.            
CLOSING REMARKS
Amb. Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.

2:00 p.m.            
WRAP UP

(**) Confirmed Speakers