[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 89 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INNOVATIVE FINANCING FOR OUR NATION'S BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Filner] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join Senator Barbara Boxer 
in introducing legislation to improve our transportation infrastructure 
along the United States border with Mexico.
  The border area has become a popular campaign stop for those who 
publicly attack decades of Federal neglect along the border, but who 
propose few solutions to the problem. Senator Boxer and I have a 
solution.
  This bill would provide critical Federal funding for border 
improvements without affecting Federal highway assistance to our border 
States. It will keep our border cities and States from having to absorb 
the costs of building the roads, bridges, railroads, and highways 
needed to implement Federal trade policy.
  The $500 million border infrastructure fund which would be 
established by our legislation would pay for construction and 
improvements to the area infrastructure. Our bill would also authorize 
a Federal loan program to reopen what we in San Diego call the jobs 
train--the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad. With direct rail 
connections to the east, the Port of San Diego can become the center of 
commercial activity and we can transform the economy of this entire 
region.
  American investment in roads, highways, airports, seaports, and 
railroads have been responsible for creating the most advanced and 
efficient economy in the history of the world. Business leaders and 
elected officials remain united in the belief that improving our 
transportation infrastructure is the key to growing our economy.
  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 agreement was a commitment to build, repair, and maintain the 
physical infrastructure needed to implement the agreement; like State 
Route 905 and the jobs train in San Diego. Although this has not been 
the case, and the physical needs of the trade treaty still have not 
been addressed, this bill will make sure that the Federal Government 
meets this commitment.
  As a result of the passage of NAFTA, our country is now taking in 
increased custom duties, merchandise fees, and revenues from other 
commerce-related activities. Our proposal would direct that those 
funds, collected as a result of our increased trade, be reinvested into 
the roads, bridges, railways, harbors, and airports that support that 
trade.
  My own district has two unfunded NAFTA mandates that our local 
communities 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 
Interstate 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 eastbound rail lines. Repairing and improving this now abandoned 
railroad would provide direct access to eastern markets for trade 
arriving through the Port of San Diego and the United States-Mexico 
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.
  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.

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