MINUTES 
          
                   SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON NORTH AMERICAN 
                              FREE TRADE AGREEMENT 
                           Tuesday, February 10, 1998 
                                   10:00 a.m. 
                    Texas A&M Agriculture Extension Building 
                              Corpus Christi, 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 Tuesday,  
         February 10, 1998 in Texas A&M Agriculture Extension Building,  
         at Corpus Christi, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
              Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman       Senator Mario  
         Gallegos, Jr. 
              Senator John Carona                     Senator Steve  
         Ogden 
              Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Chairman Truan called the public meeting to order at 10:05  
         a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was  
         transacted.   
          
         After introductory remarks were made by Chairman Truan, he  
         recognized the following for welcoming remarks:  Corpus  
         Christi Mayor Lloyd Neal; Richard Borchard, Nueces County  
         Judge; and Dr. Robert R. Furgason, President of Texas A&M  
         Corpus Christi. 
          
         Senator Carona moved to adopt the minutes from the January 14,  
         1998 Committee hearing held in Mission.  There being no  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Committee then received comments from Armando Beteta Sr.,  
         the Consul of Mexico in Corpus Christi  and Armando Beteta  
         Jr., Representative of the Tax Administration Service of  
         Mexico at the NAFTA  Center in Dallas on the impacts and  
         implementation of NAFTA and the services provided by their  
         offices. A discussion followed. 
          
         The Committee then heard testimony on NAFTA transportation  
         issues.  Those testifying included: Judge Richard Borchard,  
         Nueces County Judge and member of the 77/281 Coalition; Mr.  
         Randy Delay, Consultant for the South Texas Border  
         Partnership; Mr. Joe Moseley, Shiner, Moseley and Associates;  
         Mr. Tom Griebel, Assistant Executive Director of the Texas  
  
         Department of Transportation; Mr. David Puig, Laredo  
         Development Foundation; Mr. Armando Soto, Greater Corpus  
         Christi Business Alliance; and Dr. Khosrow Fatemi, Dean of the  
         College of Business at Texas A&M International University.  A  
         discussion followed.  Additional witnesses testifying and  
         registering are shown on the attached list. 
          
         The Committee then received testimony on the impact of NAFTA  
         on Small Businesses and Port Industries.  Those testifying  
         included:  Mr. Massey Villareal, Texas Association of Mexican  
         American Chambers of Commerce; Mr. Richard Gonzales, New  
         America Marketing; Mr. Gonzalo Tamez, President of LULAC  
         Council #1; Mr. Gary Bushell, President of the Greater Corpus  
         Christi Business Alliance; Mr. Chuck Cazales, CITGO; and Ms.  
         Lisa Acuna Munoz from Horton Automatics.   A discussion  
         followed.  Additional witnesses testifying and registering are  
         shown on the attached list. 
          
         Testimony on the impact of NAFTA on Water Ports followed.  
         Those testifying included: Mr. George Williamson, Managing  
         Director of the Port of Houston; Mr. John LaRue, Director of  
         the Port of Corpus Christi; Mr. Gene Cockrill Director of the  
         Port of Brownsville; and  Mr. George Polinard, Business  
         Manager for the International Longshoreman's Association.    A  
         discussion followed.  Additional witnesses testifying and  
         registering are shown on the attached list. 
          
         The Chairman next received public testimony.  A discussion  
         followed.  Additional witnesses testifying and registering are  
         shown on the attached list. 
          
         There being no further business, at 6:00 p.m. Senator  
         Shapleigh moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to  
         the call of the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Carlos F. Truan, Chairman 
          
         ______________________ 
         Carla D. Buckner, Clerk