MINUTES 
          
                   SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON NORTH AMERICAN 
                              FREE TRADE AGREEMENT 
                          Wednesday, December 10, 1997 
                                    1:00 p.m. 
                       North Lake College, Room A345/A347 
                             5001 N. MacArthur Blvd 
                                  Irving, Texas 
                                 PUBLIC HEARING 
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Committee on  
         North American Free Trade Agreement was held on Wednesday,  
         December 10, 1997 at the North Lake College, Room  
         A345/A347, 5001 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
              Senator Carlos F. Truan                  Senator Mario  
         Gallegos, Jr. 
              Senator John Carona 
              Senator Steve Ogden 
              Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
         The Chair made opening remarks and then recognized Senator  
         Carona for his opening remarks.  The Chair then recognized  
         North Lake College President Dr. David England for welcoming  
         remarks.  Chairman Truan recognized Senators Shapleigh and  
         Ogden for opening remarks.  The Chairman asked if any  
         hearing-impaired interpreter services were necessary; none  
         were requested. 
          
         Senator Carona moved to adopt the minutes from the October 13,  
         1997 meeting.  This motion was seconded by Senator Shapleigh.   
         There being no objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Carona   
         moved to adopt the minutes from the November 13, 1997 meeting.   
         This motion was seconded by Senator Shapleigh.  There being no  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Honorable Jeff Moseley, Denton County Judge, was  
         recognized by the Chairman for invited testimony on the impact  
         of NAFTA on small businesses.  A discussion followed.   
         Chairman  Truan next recognized Mr. Joe Morin, President,  
         Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce for  
         invited testimony.  A discussion followed.  Ms. Susan Tully,  
         representing the Texas Department of Economic Development,  
         appeared to testify as a resource witness.  A discussion  
         followed. 
  
         At 2:01 p.m. Senator Carona assumed the chair and recognized  
         Mr. Rick Douglas, President of the Greater Dallas Chamber of  
         Commerce to present invited testimony.  A discussion followed.   
         The Chair then recognized Mr. Kingsley Jackson to testify on  
         the impact of NAFTA on his small business.  At 2:20 p.m.  
         Senator Truan resumed the chair and acknowledged the presence  
         of Sr. Ram n Xilotl, Consul General of Mexico, Dallas office  
         and Mr. Armando Beteta, Jr. with the NAFTA and Customs Affairs  
         office of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico  
         for brief remarks.  A discussion followed.  Chairman Truan  
         also recognized Ms. C line Fittes, Consul and Trade  
         Commissioner for the Canadian Consulate General in Dallas, for  
         brief welcoming remarks to the Committee. 
          
         Chairman Truan then recognized Dr. Bernard Weinstein, Director  
         of the Center for Economic Development and Research,  
         University of North Texas, for invited testimony on the impact  
         of the Union Pacific Railroad shipping crisis on NAFTA traffic  
         in Texas.  A discussion followed.  At  3:37 p.m. Senator  
         Carona assumed the chair and recognized Mr. John Martinez with  
         the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for invited  
         remarks.  A discussion followed.   
          
         Mr. Bob Kamm, Senior Vice President, Governmental Affairs and  
         General Counsel for the Texas Association of Business and  
         Chambers of Commerce, was recognized by the Chair to introduce  
         invited testimony from Mr. Heber Garcia on NAFTA's impact on  
         small business.  A discussion followed.  Mr. Kamm then  
         introduced Mr. Richard Payton, owner of a Dallas-based small  
         business to discuss his experiences with international  
         business after NAFTA.  A discussion followed.  Mr. Kamm  
         finally introduced Mr. Robert Hutchison to discuss his  
         experience with his small business after NAFTA's  
         implementation.  A discussion followed. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Robert Velasquez, Director of the  
         Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center at the University  
         of Texas at San Antonio for invited testimony regarding his  
         Center's operations and role in helping small Texas business  
         after NAFTA's implementation.  A discussion followed.  The  
         Chair next recognized Mr. David Pinkus, representing Small  
         Business United-Texas and the Texas Capital Access Forum, for  
         invited testimony on the impact of NAFTA on small business in  
         Texas.  A discussion followed. 
          
         At 4:55 p.m. Senator Truan resumed the chair and recognized  
         Ms. Karen Parker, International Trade Specialist with the U.S.  
         Department of Commerce, to provide invited testimony on  
         resources available to small business in Texas.  A discussion  
         followed.  The Chair then recognized Mr. Carlos Lopez,  
         Director of the International Trade Center at the University  
         of Houston for testimony regarding the Center's recent  
         activities involving small international business  
         opportunities.  A discussion followed. 
          
         Chairman Truan then made a call for any public testimony and  
         there were none present wishing to testify.  There being no  
         further business, at 5:18 p.m. Senator Shapleigh moved that  
         the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair.   
         Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Carla D. Buckner, Clerk