SENATOR SHAPLEIGH TO VICE CHAIR THE 15TH BORDER LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
March 29, 2007
"El Paso-Juárez must push for secure, fast, smart movement of people and products to grow good jobs."
Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org
AUSTIN – The challenges and opportunities of U.S. and Mexican border communities, including El Paso, will be addressed by border officials from both countries this Friday, March 30 at the 15th Border Legislative Conference (BLC) in Chihuahua, Mexico. Senator Shapleigh, BLC Vice Chair, serves as an appointee of Lt. Governor David Dewhurst.
The BLC is a binational program that brings together legislators from the ten U.S. and Mexico border states to address challenges and economic opportunities common to both countries. The BLC serves as a primary mechanism for sustained dialogue and collaboration among U.S. and Mexican state officials. The BLC also seeks to establish efficient and strategic collaborative efforts with multi level governments and nongovernmental organizations to the end that border communities can be strengthened and improved.
At the upcoming legislative conference, officials will discuss immigration, drug addiction and intervention, border trade and infrastructure, and human trafficking. In the area of trade, as chair of the BLC Economic Development Committee, Senator Shapleigh has worked to develop and implement the New Border Trade Proposal. The proposal recommends the establishment of fast, safe, intelligent border bridges to speed movement of people and product.
The project entails the equipping of commercial vehicles and manufacturing facilities with Intelligent Software Agents and Information Technology Systems, and provides a renewed framework to enhance supply chain visibility by linking manufacturing and custom operations to enhance security, inoperability, and expedited clearance of commercial shipments at the border.
In December 2005, the members of the BLC unanimously adopted the New Border Trade Proposal in El Paso. Collaboration, strategic planning, and commitment among federal, state, and local governments in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as the private sector and border communities, is essential to develop a border system that is safe, fast, and smart for the 21st Century.
Recent figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce show that Texas leads all states in cross-border commerce with $108.6 billion in goods from Mexico, which constitutes 68% of its total imported goods. The "Twin Plant" or maquiladora industry contributes $105 billion of that total.
"As immigration bills in Washington, D.C. define our region, El Paso-Juárez must push for secure, fast, smart movement of people and products to grow good jobs," said Senator Shapleigh.
In addition, a press conference on outcomes of the BLC is tentatively scheduled for 5:40 p.m. on March 30 at the Hotel Westin Soberano Chihuahua, Barranca de Cobre, No. 3211, Fracc. Barrancas, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico.
To obtain a copy of meeting agenda and general information, please visit the BLC website at www.borderlegislators.org and click on “meeting calendar.”
What: 15th Border Legislative Conference
When: Friday, March 30: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Where: Hotel Westin Soberano Chihuahua
Barranca de Cobre, No. 3211, Fracc. Barranca
Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico 31125
* * *
BLC Membership
Chair: Diputado Juan Jose Gonzalez Espinoza, Chihuahua State Legislature
Vice Chair: Senator Eliot Shapleigh, Texas State Senate
United States
Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny California State Senate
Senator Gilbert Cedillo California State Senate
Assembly Member Lori Saldaña California State Assembly
Assembly Member Hector De La Torre California State Assembly
Senator Amanda Aguirre Arizona State Senate
Senator Tom O'Halleran Arizona State Senate
Senator Timothy S. Bee Arizona State Senate (alt)
Representative Doug Clark Arizona House of Representatives
Representative Jonathan Paton Arizona House of Representatives
Representative Warde V. Nichols Arizona House of Representatives (alt)
Senator Mary Jane Garcia New Mexico State Senate
Senator Leonard Lee Rawson New Mexico State Senate
Representative Mary Helen Garcia New Mexico House of Representatives
Representative Andy Nuñez New Mexico House of Representatives BLC Chair, 2006
Senator Jeff Wentworth Texas State Senate BLC Chair, 2003
Representative Ryan Guillen Texas House of Representatives
Representative Tracy O. King Texas House of Representatives
Representative Harvey Hilderbran Texas House of Representatives (alt) | Mexico
Diputado Guillermo Aldrete Haas Baja California State Legislature
Diputado Ricardo Magaña Mosqueda Baja California State Legislature
Diputado Carlos Alberto Montaño Quintana Baja California State Legislature
Diputado Jaime Xicotencatl Palafox Granados Baja California State Legislature
Diputada Irma Villalobos Rascón Sonora State Legislature
Diputado Carlos Amaya Rivera Sonora State Legislature
Diputado Reynaldo Millan Cota Sonora State Legislature
Diputado Ventura Felix Armenta Sonora State Legislature
Diputado Luis Melecio
Chavarin Gaxiola Sonora State Legislature (alt)
Diputada Leticia Amparano Gamez Sonora State Legislature (alt)
Diputado Salvador Gomez Ramirez Chihuahua State Legislature
Diputado Jaime Garcia Chavez Chihuahua State Legislature
Diputado Ruben Aguilar Gil Chihuahua State Legislature
Diputado Jose Luis Canales de la Vega Chihuahua State Legislature (alt)
Diputado Alvaro Navarro Garate Chihuahua State Legislature (alt)
Diputado Horacio del Bosque Davila Coahuila State Legislature
Diputado Francisco Saracho Navarro Coahuila State Legislature
Diputado Jose Francisco Cortes Lozano Coahuila State Legislature
Diputado Alfredo Garza Castillo Coahuila State Legislature
Diputado Leocadio Hernandez Torres Coahuila State Legislature (alt)
Diputado Jose Antonio Jacinto Pacheco Coahuila State Legislature (alt)
Diputado Alfredo Javier Rodriguez Davila Nuevo Leon State Legislature
Diputado Francisco Javier Cantu Torres Nuevo Leon State Legislature
Diputado Gilberto Treviño Aguirre Nuevo Leon State Legislature
Diputado Gerardo Javier Garcia Maldonado Nuevo Leon State Legislature
Diputado Ramon Garza Barrios Tamaulipas State Legislature
Diputado Servando Lopez Moreno Tamaulipas State Legislature
Diputada Maria Eugenia De Leon Perez Tamaulipas State Legislature
Diputado Alejandro Antonio Saenz Garza Tamaulipas State Legislature
Diputado Juan Jose Chapa Garza Tamaulipas State Legislature (alt)
Diputado Carlos Manuel Montiel Saeb Tamaulipas State Legislature (alt) |
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