[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 121 (Thursday, September 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11065-S11066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




U.S. BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE, FEDERAL OFFSHORE DRILLING ROYALTIES AND THE 
                             McGREGOR RANGE

 Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, at the request of the Honorable 
Elton Bomer, Secretary of State for Texas, I rise today to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues House Concurrent Resolutions 2, 59 and 133, 
as passed by the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas. House 
Concurrent Resolution 2 urges the United States Congress to provide 
funding for infrastructure improvements, additional personnel and 
extended hours of operation at border crossings between Texas and 
Mexico. In order for all Americans to fully enjoy the economic benefits 
of trade, we must ensure that the Customs Service obtains the resources 
necessary to reduce delays, promote commerce and combat illicit drug 
trafficking. The Senate recently passed the Customs Authorization Act 
of 1999--largely based on legislation I crafted to facilitate trade 
along the Southwest border--which authorizes the funds necessary to 
improve our border infrastructure and stem the flow of illegal drugs 
into the United States.
  Secondly, House Concurrent Resolution 59 urges the United States 
Congress to pass legislation allocating a portion of federal offshore 
drilling royalties to coastal states and local communities. I believe 
coastal states deserve more than the 5 percent of the $120 billion they 
helped generate during the past 43 years. States and local communities 
are more qualified than bureaucrats in Washington to allocate resources 
to address their specific local needs, and should be given the freedom 
to do so. By passing this resolution, the Texas Legislature has sent a 
clear message, and it is time for Congress to act. Common sense invites 
it, and fairness demands it.
  In addition, House Concurrent Resolution 133 supports the United 
States Congress in ensuring that the critical infrastructure for the 
United States military defense strategy be maintained by withdrawing 
from public use the McGregor Range land beyond the year 2001. The 
Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 requires that the withdrawal from 
public use of all military land governed by the Army, including the 
McGregor Range, must be terminated on November 6, 2001, unless the 
withdrawal is renewed by an Act of Congress. As my colleagues may know, 
the McGregor Range at Ft. Bliss is America's principal training 
facility for air defense systems, maintaining our military readiness in 
air-to-ground combat by providing the highest level of missile defense 
testing for advanced missile defense systems. Texas has a long and 
impressive history of supporting America's defense, both at home and on 
the front lines, and I strongly believe that no state contributes more 
to the defense of our nation than Texas. I look forward to working to 
ensure that if the lion and the lamb lie to down together in this 
world, that the United States of America always be the lion.
  Mr. President, I commend the Texas Legislature for passing these 
resolutions and ask that they be printed in the Record.
  The material follows:

                                               The State of Texas,


                             Office of the Secretary of State,

                                      Austin, TX, August 20, 1999.
     Hon. Phil Gramm,
     U.S. Senator,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Gramm: Enclosed is an official copy of Senate 
     Concurrent Resolution 2, as passed by the 76th Legislature, 
     Regular Session, 1999, of the State of Texas, wherein the 
     76th Legislature of the State of Texas respectfully urges the 
     United States Congress to provide funding for infrastructure 
     improvements, more customs inspection lanes and customs 
     officials, and 24-hour customs operations at border crossings 
     between Texas and Mexico.
       The 76th Legislature of the State of Texas requests that 
     this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional 
     Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Elton Bomer,
                                               Secretary of State.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, Bottlenecks at customs inspection lanes have 
     contributed to traffic congestion at Texas-Mexico border 
     crossing areas, slowing the flow of commerce and detracting 
     from the economic potential of the North American Free Trade 
     Agreement (NAFTA); and
       Whereas, Smuggling of drugs inside truck parts and cargo 
     containers compounds the problem, necessitating lengthy 
     vehicle searches that put federal customs officials in a 
     crossfire between their mandate to speed the movement of 
     goods and their mandate to reduce the flow of illegal 
     substances; and
       Whereas, At the state level, the Texas comptroller of 
     public accounts has released a report titled Bordering the 
     Future, recommending among other items that U.S. customs 
     inspection facilities at major international border crossings 
     stay open around the clock; and
       Whereas, At the federal level, the U.S. General Accounting 
     Office is conducting a similar study of border commerce and 
     NAFTA issues, and the U.S. Customs Service is working with a 
     private trade entity to review and analyze the relationship 
     between its inspector numbers and its inspection workload; 
     and
       Whereas, Efficiency in the flow of NAFTA commerce requires 
     two federal customs-related funding commitments: (1) improved 
     infrastructure, including additional customs inspection 
     lanes; and (2) a concurrent expansion in customs personnel 
     and customs operating hours; and
       Whereas, Section 1119 of the federal Transportation Act for 
     the 21st Century (TEA-21), creating the Coordinated Border 
     Infrastructure Program, serves as a funding source for border 
     and infrastructure improvements and regulatory enhancements; 
     and
       Whereas, Domestic profits and income increase in tandem 
     with exports and imports, generating federal revenue, some 
     portion of which deserves channeling into the customs 
     activity that supports increased international trade; and
       Whereas, Texas legislators and businesses, being close to 
     the situation geographically, are acutely aware of the fixes 
     and upgrades that require attention if NAFTA prosperity is 
     truly to live up to the expectations of this state and 
     nation; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     provide funding for infrastructure improvements, more customs 
     inspection lanes and customs officials, and 24-hour customs 
     operations at border crossings between Texas and Mexico; and, 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and the President of the Senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the Congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.
                                  ____

                                               The State of Texas,


                             Office of the Secretary of State,

                                        Austin, TX, July 28, 1999.
     Hon. Phil Gramm,
     U.S. Senator,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Gramm: Enclosed is an official copy of House 
     Concurrent Resolution 59, as passed by the 76th Legislature, 
     Regular Session, 1999, of the State of Texas. In this 
     resolution the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas urges 
     the United States Congress to pass legislation allocating a 
     portion of federal offshore drilling royalties to coastal 
     states and local communities.
       The 76th Legislature of the State of Texas requests that 
     this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional 
     Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Elton Bomer,
                                               Secretary of State.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 59

       Whereas, One of Texas' richest and most diverse areas is 
     that of the Gulf Coast; the Coastal Bend abounds with 
     treasures for all, and every year thousands of visitors flock 
     to its beaches and wetlands to enjoy the sun, fish the 
     waters, appreciate its unique scenery and wildlife, and 
     bolster their spirits simply by being near such awe-inspiring 
     beauty; and
       Whereas, In addition to $7 billion per year generated by 
     coastal tourism, the area is also home to half of the 
     nation's petrochemical industry and over a quarter of its 
     petroleum refining capacity; and
       Whereas, Coastal tourism, the petrochemical and petroleum 
     industries, a robust commercial and recreational fishing 
     trade,

[[Page S11066]]

     and significant agricultural production make this region a 
     vital economic and natural resource for both the state and 
     the nation; and
       Whereas, Like other coastal states located near offshore 
     drilling activities, Texas provides workers, equipment, and 
     ports of entry for oil and natural gas mined offshore; while 
     these states derive numerous benefits from the offshore 
     drilling industry, they also face great risks, such as 
     coastline degradation and spill disasters, as well as the 
     loss of nonrenewable natural resources; and
       Whereas, Although state and local authorities have worked 
     diligently to conserve and protect coastal resources, 
     securing the funds needed to maintain air and water quality 
     and to ensure the existence of healthy wetlands and beaches 
     and protection of wildlife is a constant challenge; and
       Whereas, The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund was 
     established by Congress in 1964 and has been one of the most 
     successful and far-reaching pieces of conservation and 
     recreation legislation, using as its funding source the 
     revenues from oil and gas activity on the Outer Continental 
     Shelf; and
       Whereas, The game and nongame wildlife resources of this 
     state are a vital natural resource and provide enjoyment and 
     other benefits for current and future generations; and
       Whereas, The federal government has received more than $120 
     billion in offshore drilling revenue during the past 43 
     years, only five percent of which has been allotted to the 
     states; it is fair and just that Texas and other coastal 
     states should receive a dedicated share of the revenue they 
     help generate; and
       Whereas, Several bills are currently before the United 
     States Congress that would allocate a portion of federal 
     offshore drilling royalties to coastal states and local 
     communities for wildlife protection, conservation, and 
     coastal impact projects; and
       Whereas, States and local communities know best how to 
     allocate resources to address their needs, and block grants 
     will provide the best means for distributing funds; and
       Whereas, These funds would help support the recipients' 
     efforts to renew and maintain their beaches, wetlands, urban 
     waterfronts, parks, public harbors and fishing piers, and 
     other elements of coastal infrastructure that are vital to 
     the quality of life and economic and environmental well-being 
     of these states and local communities; now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     pass legislation embodying these principles; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and tot all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.
                                  ____

                                               The State of Texas,


                             Office of the Secretary of State,

                                        Austin, TX, July 28, 1999.
     Hon. Phil Gramm,
     U.S. Senator,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Gramm: Enclosed is an official copy of House 
     Concurrent Resolution 133, as passed by the 76th Legislature, 
     Regular Session, 1999, of the State of Texas. In this 
     resolution, the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     supports the United States Congress' efforts to ensure that 
     the critical infrastructure for the United States military 
     defense strategy be maintained be withdrawing from public use 
     of the McGregor Range land beyond 2001.
       The 76th Legislature of the State of Texas requests that 
     this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional 
     Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Elton Bomer,
                                               Secretary of State.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 133

       Whereas, Future military threats to the United States and 
     its allies may come from technologically advanced rogue 
     states that for the first time are armed with long-range 
     missiles capable of delivering nuclear, chemical, or 
     biological weapons to an increasingly wider range of 
     countries; and
       Whereas, The U.S. military strategy requires flexible and 
     strong armed forces that are well-trained, well-equipped, and 
     ready to defend our nation's interests against these 
     devastating weapons of mass destruction; and
       Whereas, Previous rounds of military base closures combined 
     with the realignment of the Department of the Army force 
     structure have established Fort Bliss as the Army's Air 
     Defense Artillery Center of Excellence, thus making McGregor 
     Range, which is a part of Fort Bliss, the nation's principal 
     training facility for air defense systems; and
       Whereas, McGregor Range is inextricably linked to the 
     advance missile defense testing network that includes Fort 
     Bliss and the White Sands Missile Range, providing, 
     verifying, and maintaining the highest level of missile 
     defense testing for the Patriot, Avenger, Stinger, and other 
     advanced missile defense systems; and
       Whereas, The McGregor Range comprises more than half of the 
     Fort Bliss installation land area, and the range and its 
     restricted airspace in conjunction with the White Sands 
     Missile Range, is crucial to the development and testing of 
     the Army Tactical Missile System and the Theater High 
     Altitude Area Defense System; and
       Whereas, The high quality and unique training capabilities 
     of the McGregor Range allow the verification of our military 
     readiness in air-to-ground combat, including the Army's only 
     opportunity to test the Patriot missile in live fire, 
     tactical scenarios, as well as execute the ``Roving Sands'' 
     joint training exercises held annually at Fort bliss; and
       Whereas, The Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 requires 
     that the withdrawal from public use of all military land 
     governed by the Army, including McGregor Range, must be 
     terminated on November 6, 2001, unless such withdrawal is 
     renewed by an Act of Congress; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby support the U.S. Congress in ensuring that the 
     critical infrastructure for the U.S. military defense 
     strategy be maintained through the renewal of the withdrawal 
     from public use of the McGregor Range land beyond 2001; and, 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the Congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.

                          ____________________