[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 195 (Friday, December 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ACT

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 1995

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind this Congress of an 
important impending date in the North American Free Trade Agreement 
[NAFTA] which this Congress approved. On December 18, the agreement 
requires the participating nations to open their border states to each 
other's commercial truck traffic.
  It is appropriate to remember this date as I introduce ``The Border 
Infrastructure Improvements Act of 1995'' to ensure that border cities 
have the necessary transportation infrastructure to implement this 
federal trade policy.
  Historically, investment in transportation has helped countries 
achieve and maintain world power status. The vast empires of Greece, 
Rome, England and Spain all benefited from their extensive 
infrastructure networks. Similarly, our own investment in our roads, 
highways, airports, sea ports and railroads has been responsible for 
creating the most advanced and efficient economy in the history of the 
world.
  This situation continues to be true today, and business leaders and 
elected officials remain united in this belief that improving our 
transportation infrastructure is the key to growing our economy. This 
belief was reinforced by the passage of NAFTA.

  Soon, many more Mexican trucks will be begin crossing our bridges, 
travelling our roads and highways, and visiting our harbors and 
airports.
  When Congress approved NAFTA, we all knew that ensuring its success 
would require that all parties provide the necessary infrastructure to 
facilitate the flow of trade.
  We believed that inherent in the passage of this legislation was a 
commitment to build, repair and maintain the physical infrastructure to 
implement this Federal trade policy. This seemed to be a good sign for 
America's bridges, roads, highways, and sea ports that service the 
points of entry for foreign trade. Unfortunately, this has not been the 
case and the physical needs of the trade treaty still have not been 
addressed.
  While I welcome the prospect of free trade with our North American 
neighbors, I am concerned that our infrastructure is woefully 
unprepared to handle this new traffic. I believe many of our roads and 
highways at our borders are not yet prepared to handle this tremendous 
increase in commercial traffic.
  My own district has two unfunded NAFTA mandates that our community 
alone cannot address--completion of State Route 905 and revitalization 
of the San Diego & Arizona Eastern rail line, the ``Jobs Train''.
  State Route 905 serves as the only link connecting the nation's 
second busiest southern commercial border crossing to the national 
inter-state highway system. This road, however is currently a four lane 
city street! It was not intended to carry the additional border traffic 
that will soon be coming. And it was never intended to be a tool to 
implement international trade policy. I know this is also the case in 
numerous other border crossing communities.
  The ``Jobs Train'' rehabilitation would revitalize San Diego's rail 
link to the eastern bound rail lines. Repairing and improving this now 
abandoned railroad would provide quicker access to eastern markets for 
trade arriving through the Port of San Diego and the border crossing.
  Our cities and states undergo a constant struggle to build and 
maintain their own infrastructure. They do not have sufficient funds to 
single-handedly complete projects which support federal trade policy. 
Not funding these projects is the worst kind of unfunded mandate. The 
Federal Government must meet its responsibility.
  Under my legislation, the Federal Government will honor this 
commitment to the cities and States affected by the new trade policies 
of NAFTA. This bill guarantees that the necessary infrastructure to 
implement this policy will become a federally funded priority.
  Today, America finds itself in a unique opportunity to again 
demonstrate this infrastructure investment policy and help stimulate 
its own economic growth. It is an opportunity that we cannot afford to 
miss.
  We are fortunate in America to have this opportunity to control our 
own economic future. We are a young and vital country, filled with 
optimism and vision. Let's hope that we act on that vision while the 
opportunities are still there. If we succeed, our nation will continue 
to be a better place to live for generations to come.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in this effort to provide this 
vital infrastructure to help our nation take full advantage of the new 
global market.

                          ____________________