MINUTES 
                                           
               SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE 
                             Wednesday, October 6, 2004 
                                     9:30 a.m. 
                         Texas A&M International University 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         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 Wednesday, October 6, 2004, in  
         the Texas A&M International University. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator John Carona 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh                 Senator Kevin Eltife 
         Senator Kel Seliger                     Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Chairman Lucio called the hearing to order, and offered opening  
         remarks.  Senator Zaffirini offered welcoming remarks.  Mayor  
         Elizabeth Flores, City of Laredo, and Dr. Dan R. Jones, on  
         behalf of Texas A&M International University, offered welcoming  
         remarks to the committee.  
          
         Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of the minutes from the  
         previous hearing held on August 9, 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 10:58 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.  
          
         At 11:06 a.m. Senator Lucio resumed the chair.    
          
         Pursuant to the San Antonio hearing, at 11:09 a.m., Senator  
         Zaffirini moved that the Governor's Border Commerce Coordinator  
         address the issue of One-Stop Border truck inspections  
         facilities and restart the 1999 Border Inspection and Trade  
         Working Group.  
         Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         An additional motion was made by Senator Zaffirini to modify the  
         previous motion to include the issue of undertaking truck  
  
         inspections on the Mexican side of the Border to the restarted  
         Working Group. 
           
         Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 11:52 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 12:12 p.m. Senator Lucio resumed the chair.   
          
         At 2:13 p.m. Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair.   
          
         At 4:55 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         There being no further business, at 5:10 p.m. Senator Zaffirini  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         LeAnn Gallegos, Clerk