[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22743]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF RAUL RODRIGUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Raul Rodriguez 
for his work to improve the quality of life in the U.S.-Mexico border 
region as he prepares to end his tenure as the Managing Director of the 
North American Development Bank.
  The NADBank is jointly operated by the United States and Mexico, 
financing and developing needed environmental projects in the border 
region, such as water and wastewater treatment plants. Raul has guided 
the expanding NADBank since October of 2000.
  Under Raul's leadership, the NADBank has grown dramatically. It now 
provides over $703 million in financing and assistance for 89 
infrastructure projects in the U.S.-Mexico border region, including 
technical and financial assistance projects in border communities that 
would not otherwise have been feasible.
  The North American Development Bank is assisting on a set of projects 
whose total cost is estimated at over $2.4 billion, a level of 
investment that may have been impossible to achieve if not for the 
efforts of the NADBank.
  Prior to joining the NADBank, Raul was the Executive Director of the 
Mexican Foreign Trade Bank, and he served as Mexico's Trade 
Commissioner in Canada during the NAFTA negotiations. Raul also served 
as a professor for several years.
  Thanks in large part to the contributions of Raul Rodriguez, the 
NADBank is more able to make a positive impact in the border region 
than many could have ever imagined. I thank Mr. Rodriguez today for his 
hard work and dedication, and I wish him the best as he continues to 
serve our border community.

                          ____________________