MINUTES 
                                           
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE 
                           Subcommittee on Border Affairs 
                             Tuesday, February 5, 2002 
                                     9:30 a.m. 
                 Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business &  
         Commerce was held on Tuesday, February 5, 2002, at Texas A&M  
         International University in Laredo, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator John Carona 
                                                 Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
                                                 Senator Leticia Van de  
         Putte 
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called: 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.  The  
         following business was transacted:   
          
         Chairman Lucio gave opening remarks. 
          
         Senator Judith Zaffirini, Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores of Laredo,  
         Webb County Judge Mercurio Martinez, Senator Leticia Van de  
         Putte, and Dr. Ray M. Keck of Texas A&M International University  
         all gave opening and welcoming remarks. 
          
         The first order of business was to approve the minutes from the  
         previous hearing held on November 27, 2001.  Without objection,  
         the minutes were approved. 
          
         The Chair recognized the following witnesses: 
          
         Commissioner Susan Combs, representing the Texas Department of  
         Agriculture, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         At 10:43 a.m., Senator Van de Putte assumed the chair.   
          
         Mr. Eddie Solis, representing the Comptroller of Public  
         Accounts, testified on the state of the border economy. 
         Ms. Helena Colyandro, representing the Texas Department of  
  
         Economic Development, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Craig Morgan, representing the Texas Department of Economic  
         Development, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         At 11:15 a.m., Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.   
          
         Mr. Rene Gonzalez, representing the North American International  
         Trade Corridor Partnership, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Luis Macias, representing the Texas Workforce Commission,  
         testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Pete Castillo, representing the Middle Rio Grande Workforce  
         Board, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         County Judge Mercurio Martinez, representing Webb County,  
         testified on the implementation of Proposition 2 and submitted  
         written testimony regarding the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Amadeo Saenz, representing the Texas Department of  
         Transportation, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Ed Wueste, representing the Texas Department of  
         Transportation, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Luis Ramirez, representing the Texas Department of  
         Transportation, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Gabriel Del Bosque, representing the City of Laredo Planning  
         Department, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores, representing the city of Laredo,  
         testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Dr. J. Michael Patrick, Ph.D., representing the Texas Center for  
         Border Economic and Enterprise Development at Texas A&M  
         International University, submitted written testimony on the  
         interim charges. 
          
         Dr. John Adams, Ph.D., representing the Laredo Development  
         Foundation, testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Miguel Conchas, representing the Laredo Chamber of Commerce,  
         testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Following invited testimony, Chairman Lucio called for public  
         testimony.  The following witnesses testified: 
          
         Commissioner Oscar D. Gonzalez, representing Jim Hogg County,  
         testified on the interim charges. 
          
         Mr. Oscar Mu oz, representing the Texas A&M University Center  
         for Housing and Urban Development Colonias Program, testified on  
         the interim charges. 
  
         County Judge Eloy Vera, representing the Starr County Industrial  
         Foundation, submitted written testimony on the interim charges. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:40 p.m., Chairman Lucio  
         moved that the subcommittee stand recessed subject to the call  
         of the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         ___________________________ 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair 
          
         ___________________________ 
         Laura Garcia, Clerk