[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPACT OF THE US-VISIT PROGRAM ON SOUTH TEXAS 
                              COMMUNITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an issue of 
great importance to the communities of South Texas--the United States 
Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (US VISIT) program. 
I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Jim Turner 
for his leadership on homeland security issues. He is a great advocate 
for improving our national security infrastructure at all levels.
  We face many challenges in the homeland security area, from the need 
to improve our intelligence capabilities to providing more resources 
for local first responders. Without question, we need to continue 
efforts to improve our national security. But, we must do so in a way 
that does not undermine our economy. Security and commerce must go hand 
in hand.
  Without a doubt, one of the goals of the September 11th terrorists 
was to damage our economy. We should not let them win by imposing 
security measures without the proper infrastructure and preparation 
needed to make them work smoothly. Texas is the gateway for trade 
between the United States and Mexico, one of our largest trading 
partners. Our ports along the border, from El Paso to Brownsville, 
handle the majority of land-based trade with Mexico. Laredo and El Paso 
are the two largest ports of entry and six out of the top 10 lands 
ports are in Texas.
  I recently had the opportunity to visit the Port of Laredo with the 
Ranking Member, Mr. Turner, to hear first hand about the impact of US-
VISIT on our border communities. We met at the World Trade Bridge 
which, along with a sister bridge, accounts for roughly 40 percent of 
all overland trade between the United States and Mexico. The US-VISIT 
program, as currently designed, poses a great threat to our border and 
national economies. We clearly lack the infrastructure to handle the 
new requirements. Even without US-VISIT, our border infrastructure is 
inadequate to meet the current demands and future potential. We need to 
improve our roads, build new bridges, and update our technology. With 
implementation of the US-VISIT program, we face the likelihood of 
greater delays, confusion, and a decrease in legitimate trade and 
tourist travel.
  We must not tolerate any decrease in border trade. Our goal must be 
to expand it while improving our security. To do so requires more 
investment. To do so requires the development of new technologies that 
will protect us while allowing more people and goods to cross our 
borders.
  We need to better understand how US-VISIT will impact us. For that 
reason, I have requested, through Ranking Member Turner, that the GAO 
study the economic impact of US-VISIT on our land ports and to report 
on what infrastructure and technology we need in order to avoid an 
economic disaster. Once we have that information, and only then, can we 
decide how to properly carry out our border security measures.
  And it's not just communities directly on the border that will 
suffer. Cities like San Antonio, a major trade gateway, will suffer 
similarly as trade becomes snarled at our ports and as trade literally 
moves elsewhere.
  We must also address the unfairness of the existing border visa 
program. Currently, Mexican citizens can obtain a border laser visa, a 
secure document that allows them to enter the United States for 72 
hours and travel no more than 25 miles from the port of entry. 
Obtaining a laser visa requires extensive background and security 
checks. Applicants are screened and checked. For that reason, we should 
also insist that holders of laser visas not be required to go through 
any duplicative requirements of US-VISIT, such as photographing and 
fingerprinting. Moreover, the 72-hour limit is unfair and if strictly 
enforced would devastate many border economies. We should allow laser 
visa holders to stay in the United States for up to six months.
  These laser visa holders are an important part of our economy. Many 
of them have businesses, homes and family members in the United States. 
We must protect our security, but we must value our visitors who do not 
come to harm us, but rather to visit our country and contribute to our 
economy.

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