[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION ACT

  The text of the bill (S. 1225) to authorize and encourage the 
President to conclude an agreement with Mexico to establish a United 
States-Mexico Border Health Commission, as passed by the Senate on 
September 30, 1994, is as follows:

                                S. 1225

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Mexico Border 
     Health Commission Act''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION.

       The President is authorized and encouraged to conclude an 
     agreement with Mexico to establish a binational commission to 
     be known as the United States-Mexico Border Health 
     Commission.

     SEC. 3. DUTIES.

       It should be the duty of the Commission--
       (1) to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment in the 
     United States-Mexico Border Area for the purposes of 
     identifying, evaluating, preventing, and resolving health 
     problems and potential health problems that affect the 
     general population of the area;
       (2) to implement the actions recommended by the needs 
     assessment through--
       (A) assisting in the coordination and implementation of the 
     efforts of public and private entities to prevent and resolve 
     such health problems, and
       (B) assisting in the coordination and implementation of 
     efforts of public and private entities to educate such 
     population, in a culturally competent manner, concerning such 
     health problems; and
       (3) to formulate recommendations to the Governments of the 
     United States and Mexico concerning a fair and reasonable 
     method by which the government of one country could reimburse 
     a public or private entity in the other country for the cost 
     of a health care service that the entity furnishes to a 
     citizen of the first country who is unable, through insurance 
     or otherwise, to pay for the service.

     SEC. 4. OTHER AUTHORIZED FUNCTIONS.

       In addition to the duties sescribed in section 3, the 
     Commission should be authorized to perform the following 
     functions as the Commission determines to be appropriate--
       (1) to conduct or support investigations, research, or 
     studies designed to identify, study, and monitor, on an on-
     going basis, health problems that affect the general 
     population in the United States-Mexico Border Area;
       (2) to conduct or support a binational, public-private 
     effort to establish a comprehensive and coordinated system, 
     which uses advanced technologies to the maximum extent 
     possible, for gathering health-related data and monitoring 
     health problems in the United States-Mexico Border Area; and
       (3) to provide financial, technical, or administrative 
     assistance to public or private nonprofit entities who act to 
     prevent or resolve such problems or who educate the 
     population concerning such health problems.

     SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

       (a) Number and Appointment of United States Section.--The 
     United States section of the Commission should be composed of 
     13 members. The section should consist of the following 
     members:
       (1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services or the 
     Secretary's delegate.
       (2) The commissioners of health or chief health officer 
     from the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California 
     or such commissioners' delegates.
       (3) Two individuals residing in United States-Mexico Border 
     Area in each of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and 
     California who are nominated by the chief executive officer 
     of the respective States and appointed by the President from 
     among individual who have demonstrated ties to community-
     based organizations and have demonstrated interest and 
     expertise in health issues of the United States-Mexico Border 
     Area.
       (b) Commissioner.--The Commissioner of the United States 
     section of the Commission should be the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services or such individual's delegate to the 
     Commission. The Commissioner should be the leader of the 
     section.
       (c) Compensation.--Members of the United States section of 
     the Commission who are not employees of the United States or 
     any State--
       (1) shall each receive compensation at a rate of not to 
     exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
     payable for positions at GS-15 of the General Schedule under 
     section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day 
     such member is engaged in the actual performance of the 
     duties of the Commission; and
       (2) shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
     lieu of subsistence at rates authorized for employees of 
     agencies under subchapter of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
     States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services of the Commission.

     SEC. 6. REGIONAL OFFICES.

       The Commission may designate or establish one border health 
     office in each of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, 
     and California. Such office should be located within the 
     United States-Mexico Border Area, and should be coordinated 
     with--
       (1) State border health offices; and
       (2) local nonprofit organizations designated by the State's 
     chief executive officer and directly involved in border 
     health issues.

     If feasible to avoid duplicative efforts, the Commission 
     offices should be located in existing State or local 
     nonprofit offices. The Commission should provide adequate 
     compensation for cooperative efforts and resources.

     SEC. 7. REPORTS.

       Not later than February 1 of each year that occurs more 
     than 1 year after the date of the establishment of the 
     Commission, the Commission should submit an annual report to 
     both the United States Government and the Government of 
     Mexico regarding all activities of the Commission during the 
     preceding calendar year.

     SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the United 
     States-Mexico Border Health Commission.
       (2) Health problem.--The term ``health problem'' means a 
     disease or medical ailment or an environmental condition that 
     poses the risk of disease or medical ailment. The term 
     includes diseases, ailments, or risks of disease or ailment 
     caused by or related to environmental factors, control of 
     animals and rabies, control of insect and rodent vectors, 
     disposal of solid and hazardous waste, and control and 
     monitoring of air quality.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.
       (4) United states-mexico border area.--The term ``United 
     States-Mexico Border Area'' means the area located in the 
     United States and Mexico within 100 kilometers of the border 
     between the United States and Mexico.

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