[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4945-S4946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 884. A bill to improve port-of-entry infrastructure along the 
Southwest border of the United States, to establish grants to improve 
ports-of-entry facilities, to designate a port-of-entry as a port 
technology demonstration site, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Finance.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Southwest 
Border Port-of-Entry Infrastructure Improvement Act. The Southwest 
border region has been ignored for far too long, and as a result, has 
lagged behind the rest of the Nation in many areas. Poor health and 
environmental quality, inadequate infrastructure, and fewer 
technological and educational resources are common facts of life along 
much of the Southwest Border.
  Last year, the U.S.-Mexico Border had a population of 12.6 million. 
By 2020, the region will have more than 21 million residents. That 
means that the southwest border region is growing at more than twice 
the national average and 40 percent faster than the U.S.'s fastest 
growing states.
  And what has been the engine of this tremendous growth? Trade. When 
the North American Free Trade Agreement came into effect in 1994, U.S.-
Mexico trade totaled $100 billion. In 1999 trade between the two 
countries accounted for $197 billion, a near doubling in only 5 years.
  Unfortunately, we have failed to invest in the Southwest Border to 
accommodate this tremendous growth. In 1999, eighty-six percent of U.S-
Mexico trade was transported across the border by trucks. Yet, rather 
than promote a system where trade can flourish, we have congested 
traffic lanes where drivers have to wait three even 5 hours before 
crossing the border.
  These lines include all manner of people and industry, from a truck 
filled with auto parts en route to Detroit to hungry tourists wanting 
an authentic taco to service employees who live in Mexico and work in 
the United States. The effect of these unnecessary traffic backlogs is 
two-fold.
  First, significant delays at our nation's ports-of-entry along the 
Southwest Border results in inefficient trade. This works at cross 
purposes with ``just in time delivery.''
  A primary reason that U.S.-Mexico trade has increased so dramatically 
is that the border allows companies to benefit from ``just in time'' 
delivery. Using ``just in time,'' firms eliminate warehousing and 
preservation costs, resulting in lower prices and more efficient 
delivery.
  Primary producers, intermediary companies, downstream retailers, and 
customers all rely on the timely delivery of goods and services. But 
huge backlogs makes ``just-in-time'' delivery more like delivery ``some 
time.'' When delivery times increase or are uncertain, associated costs 
increase for everyone down the product and user chain.

[[Page S4946]]

  Second, long traffic backlogs detrimentally affect the people who 
live along the Southwest Border.
  A study by the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that, ``the 
border's health conditions and risks * * * are among the most troubling 
and the most serious in the United States.
  Health and environmental problems seem to be most prevalent in 
poverty stricken areas. The Southwest Border is one of the poorest 
regions in the nation. In fact, nearly 27 percent of New Mexico's Dona 
Ana County live below the poverty line, double the national average, 
and other counties along the border are even worse off. For example, 40 
percent of Maverick County, Texas' population live below the poverty 
level.
  We cannot continue to focus on the increased wealth the Nation enjoys 
from trade while ignoring the burden that trade imposes on border 
residents.
  Long backlogs at ports-of-entry along the Southwest Border creates a 
substantial hardship on the people in the region. The EPA report 
concluded that the border disproportionately suffers from serious 
health threats due, in part, to airborne pollutants from vehicle 
emissions.
  Increased trade means ever increasing vehicle emissions. A recent 
study by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation 
found that truck traffic increases 8.6 percent per year. An 8.6 percent 
increase means that by 2020, commodity truck flows will be 5.5 times 
greater than 1999 levels.
  That study never considered the recent NAFTA arbitration panel ruling 
that the U.S.'s policy prohibiting Mexican trucks beyond twenty miles 
from the border violates the trade agreement.
  I would like the U.S. to promote trade so that the entire Nation's 
economy continues to grow. Yet, we need to act pro-actively with 
foresight and responsible planning so that the Southwest Border 
infrastructure can adequately handle the projected and likely traffic 
increases.
  I would like to see the engine that is our economy keep running. I 
just want that engine to run faster, quieter, and smoother. That's why 
I am introducing the Southwest Border Infrastructure Improvement Act.
  This bill provides funds to improve our ports-of-entry and ensure 
efficient binational trade in the future.
  Specifically, this bill directs the U.S. Customs Service to update 
the ``Ports of Entry Infrastructure Assessment Study'' within 6 months 
of enactment. Pursuant to the updated study, it provides $500 million 
to be spent over five years for the recommended improvements.
  Second, this legislation recognizes our unique shared border and 
relationship with Mexico. It considers that a unilateral solution along 
a binational border is no solution at all.
  Therefore, this bill establishes a $75 million grant fund for FY02 
and other sums for 2003-2006 through the Department of Transportation 
for port-of-entry infrastructure improvements that would reduce 
negative environmental impacts, such as air pollution, associated with 
cross-border transportation.
  The grant program will be administered by the North American 
Development Bank and certified by the Border Environment Cooperation 
Commission. Grant applicants must meet a dollar for dollar match 
requirement to receive grant funds.
  Last, this bill recognizes that new technologies must be developed to 
facilitate future binational trade. Our current system of processing 
goods at ports is impractical, overly burdensome, and is a substantial 
factor in traffic backlogs.
  In order to innovate more efficient processing systems, this 
legislation designates that a port-of-entry will serve as a site to 
demonstrate port technologies. The Customs Service will carry out a 
program to test and evaluate such new technologies. This bill provides 
$10 million for 2002 and other sums from 2003 through 2006 for that 
purpose.
  The selected port must have sufficient space to conduct the 
demonstration program, have low traffic volume so that new technologies 
may be incorporated without interrupting normal processing activity, 
and have a relatively modern design.
  The recent NAFTA arbitration panel ruling concerning the U.S.'s 
policy prohibiting Mexican trucks from entering the United States 
brings our infrastructure limitations to the forefront. It is 
imperative to improve the Southwest Border's inadequate infrastructure 
and design. We must act to ensure continued national growth while 
working to improve the health and environment of border residents.
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