MINUTES 
                                           
               SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE 
                               Monday, August 9, 2004 
                                     9:30 a.m. 
                                 Brownsville, Texas 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on International  
         Relations and Trade was held on Monday, August 9, 2004, in the  
         Brownsville Independent School District Board Room in  
         Brownsville, Texas.  
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Kevin Eltife                    Senator John Carona 
         Senator Craig Estes                     Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Kel Seliger 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 9:47 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Chairman Lucio called the hearing to order, and offered opening  
         remarks.  Mayor Eddie Trevino, City of Brownsville, and Dr.  
         Michael Zolkoski, superintendent of the Brownsville Independent  
         School District offered welcoming remarks to the committee  
         members.  
          
         Senator Eltife moved adoption of the minutes from the previous  
         hearing held on July 7, 2004; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The committee heard testimony from invited witnesses. Witnesses  
         testifying at the hearing are shown on the attached list.   
          
         At 10:41 a.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair.   
          
         At 10:49 a.m. Senator Lucio, Jr. resumed the chair.   
          
         At 2:43 p.m. Senator Seliger assumed the chair.         
          
         At 2:46 p.m. Senator Lucio, Jr. resumed the chair.   
          
         The committee then heard public testimony.  Witnesses testifying  
         and registering on the charges are shown on the attached list. 
          
         At 4:01 p.m. Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the committee stand  
  
         recessed subject to the call of the chair; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.     
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Chair 
          
         ____________________________ 
         LeAnn Gallegos, Clerk