MINUTES 
                                           
         STANDING SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & ECONOMIC  
                                    DEVELOPMENT 
                               Friday, March 11, 2005 
                                     10:00 a.m. 
                            Gorgas Hall, UT Brownsville 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Standing Senate Subcommittee on  
         Emerging Technologies & Economic Development was held on Friday,  
         March 11, 2005, in Gorgas Hall, UT Brownsville. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator John Carona                     Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator Kim Brimer 
                                                 Senator Craig Estes 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.   
          
         Chairman Carona thanked UT Brownsville for hosting the  
         committee, and complimented the University regarding the  
         improvements on campus. The Chairman offered opening remarks  
         with a brief overview of the committee's goals.  The Chairman  
         went on to discuss the growing emphasis our Governor and Lt.  
         Governor have put towards emerging technologies and economic  
         development. Chairman Carona explained the purpose of the  
         meeting was to take back to Austin the potential the Valley has  
         in driving Texas forward in emerging technologies and economic  
         development.   
          
         The Chairman recognized Senator Lucio who made comments  
         welcoming everyone to Brownsville and thanked Chairman Carona  
         for accepting the invitation to host the committee meeting in  
         the Valley. 
          
         The following invited testimony was given: 
          
         Emir Jose Macari, UT Brownsville   
         Jim Holt, UT Brownsville 
         J. Michael Patrick, Texas A&M International University 
         Dr. Edwin LeMaster, UT Pan American, College of Science and  
         Engineering 
         Henry Oh, UT Pan American, CFM 
          
         Jason Hilts, Brownsville Economic Development Council 
         Steve Ahlenius, McAllen Chamber of Commerce 
  
         Lisandro Ramon, Willacy County Spaceport 
         Dick Messbarger, South Texas Spaceport Consortium 
         Michael Bomba, Center for Transportation Research-University of  
         Texas at Austin, Advisor to the Office of the Governor 
          
         Charles Tad Hasse, Shrimp Producers Association 
          
         For the record, Bill Summers, Rio Grande Valley Partnership, and  
         Michael Wilson, Willacy County Development Corp. of Spaceport  
         Facility, were registered as resource witnesses. 
          
         Chairman Carona recognized Senator Lucio who welcomed Richard  
         Rodriguez, Mayor of Harlingen and Eddie Trevino, Mayor of  
         Brownsville. 
          
         There being no further business, Senator Carona moved that the  
         Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.   
         Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator John Carona, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Mary McMahan, Clerk 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator John Carona, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Mary McMahan, Clerk