[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 GRANTING CONSENT OF CONGRESS TO CHICKASAW TRAIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
                                COMPACT

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of House Joint Resolution 95, 
which is at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 95) granting the consent of 
     Congress to the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development Compact.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the joint resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint 
resolution.
  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
make a few brief comments with my colleague, Senator Lott, in support 
of H. J. Res. 95, a resolution passed by the House of Representatives 
which gives the consent of Congress to the Chickasaw Trail Economic 
Development Compact. As the U.S. Constitution requires all State 
compacts to be approved by Congress, Representatives Ed Bryant of 
Tennessee and Roger Wicker of Mississippi recently introduced this 
legislation in the House.
  This Compact will allow the States of Tennessee and Mississippi to 
determine the feasibility of establishing an industrial park which 
would straddle the border between the two States. This proposed 
Industrial Park would lie in both Fayette County, TN. and Marshall 
County, MS. Governors Sundquist and Fordice have each expressed their 
support for this initiative, as they believe this type of industrial 
park will be strengthened by taking a regional approach to industrial 
recruitment and development.
  I believe that Tennessee will benefit from this initiative by 
combining the competitive assets of southwest Tennessee and Northern 
Mississippi to create an attractive and viable business park.
  I ask my friend from Mississippi, Senator Lott, if he agrees that 
this initiative will be of significant benefit to our two States and, 
indeed, to much of the Southeast region?
  Mr. LOTT. I thank the Senator for his comments. This area of our two 
States is growing rapidly and I agree that a new, bistate industrial 
park would be of great benefit to both Mississippi and Tennessee. It is 
my hope that this proposed economic development project will mean a 
major increase in the number of jobs and level of prosperity for this 
region of the country.
  I have been working on this proposal for an industrial park for a 
number of years and I am pleased that this essential, in fact critical, 
next step of the process is taking place now. I know that both you and 
I will keep a close watch on the progress of this proposed industrial 
park and I thank you for bringing it up on the floor.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today in support of House Joint 
Resolution 95, a measure introduced by my friend, Representative Ed 
Bryant of the Seventh District of Tennessee. This legislation gives 
congressional approval to the Chickasaw Trail Economic Development 
Compact. This partnership is an interstate compact created by agreement 
of the Mississippi and Tennessee State Legislatures to promote joint 
economic development and interstate cooperation in a rural, undeveloped 
area of Fayette County, TN, and Marshall County, MS.
  The plan creates the Chickasaw Authority, which will conduct a study 
of the feasibility of establishing an industrial park in the area. If 
this study produces a positive recommendation, Mississippi and 
Tennessee would then negotiate a new compact implementing the details 
to establish a 4,000- to 5,000-acre industrial park. Such a facility 
would capitalize on the strengths that lie on both sides of the State 
line and attract new investment and employment opportunities. The 
proximity of the park to metro Memphis would build on the already 
strong commercial activity in Southwest Tennessee and North 
Mississippi. To my knowledge, this type of cooperation between States 
has never been attempted.
  Mr. President, I am proud to add my name to the unanimous support of 
the members of the Tennessee and Mississippi congressional delegations. 
it is my hope that this project will bring economic development and 
jobs by attracting new sophisticated high-technology industries to the 
area. I would like to thank the majority leader, Senator Lott, for his 
assistance in bringing this measure before the Senate, and I would also 
like to thank Senator Thompson and Senator Cochran for their support 
for this initiative. I yield the floor.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the joint 
resolution be considered read a third time and passed; that the motion 
to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating 
to the resolution appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 95) was read the third time and 
passed.

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