[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 134 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            LAND TRANSFER TO THE GREATER YUMA PORT AUTHORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 1999

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, commercial growth along the southwest border 
increased at such a rate as to render current infrastructure resources 
obsolete in dealing with the volume of commercial traffic comfortably, 
economically and efficiently. Between 1990 and 1995, the border town of 
San Luis, Arizona witnessed a population increase of more than ninety 
percent, from 4,212 to 8,026. The combined population of San Luis and 
its sister city in San Luis, Sonora, Mexico is 350,000.
  Since 1924, San Luis has served as a port of entry between the U.S. 
and Mexico. In 1998, the port experienced average daily crossings of 
360 commercial vehicles, 7,500 private vehicles, and 5,865 pedestrian 
crossings. The average delay experienced by a commercial vehicle is 
nearly 2 hours. Delays for private vehicles can be of similar length 
depending on the time of day. Current port facilities are unable to 
expedite the current volume of traffic, and the increasing volume will 
only make a bad situation worse, unless efforts are made to reroute 
commercial traffic.
  Today I am introducing legislation that authorizes the Bureau of 
Reclamation to transfer lands to the Greater Yuma Port Authority as a 
first in a series of steps toward building a new port of entry to clear 
commercial traffic through San Luis, Arizona.
  This legislative measure has the support of the parties that make up 
the Grater Yuma Port Authority such as Yuma County, the cities of San 
Luis and Somerton, and the Cocopah Indian Tribe. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in supporting this legislation.

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