MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER AFFAIRS - SPECIAL
Monday, July 10, 2000
8:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.028
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Border
Affairs - Special was held on Monday, July 10, 2000, in the
Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Teel Bivins
Senator David Sibley Senator Judith Zaffirini
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Carlos Truan
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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Lucio made opening remarks.
Chairman Lucio asked for approval of the Border Affairs minutes
from May 25th and 26th. Senator Shapleigh moved approval of the
minutes; without objection, the minutes were approved.
Secretary Elton Bomer, representing the Office of the Secretary
of State, testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Jorge Garces, representing the Office of the Secretary of
State, testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Ed Wueste, representing the Texas Department of
Transportation, testified on interim charge #5.
Mr. Scott Storment, representing the Office of the Secretary of
State, testified on interim charge #5.
Mayor Carlos Ramirez, representing the City of El Paso,
testified on interim charge #1 and other border issues.
Mayor Elizabeth "Betty" Flores, representing the Texas Border
Infrastructure Coalition, testified on interim charges.
Mr. Blas Castaneda, representing the Texas Border Infrastructure
Coalition, testified on interim charges.
Mayor Blanca Vela, representing the Texas Border Infrastructure
Coalition, testified on interim charges.
Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, representing the Office of
the Comptroller of Public Accounts, testified on interim charge
#1 and other border issues.
Mr. Augustin Redwine, representing the Office of the Comptroller
of Public Accounts, testified on interim charge #1.
Mr. Clint Winters, representing the Office of the Comptroller of
Public Accounts, testified on interim charge #1.
Commissioner Don Gilbert, representing the Health and Human
Services Commission, testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Ronald J. Dutton, representing the Texas Department of
Health, testified on interim charge #3.
Senator Truan requested that the Committee write a letter to the
Commissioner of Health asking for more information on birth
defects. Without objection; it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh asked Commissioner Gilbert for more
information on health care shortages based on health care
professionals per capita. Senator Shapleigh asked the
Commissioner to submit information in writing as to whether the
43 border counties are the least served in the country.
At 11:12 a.m. Senator Sibley assumed the chair.
At 11:16 a.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
At 11:26 a.m. Senator Sibley assumed the chair.
At 11:30 a.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Mr. John Guerra, representing AT&T, testified on interim charge
#4.
At 12:35 p.m. Chairman Lucio announced that the Committee stand
at ease until 1:30 p.m.
At 1:35 p.m. the Committee reconvened.
Judge Jeff Moseley, representing the Texas Department of
Economic Development, testified on interim charge #4.
At 1:53 p.m. Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair.
Dr. Gordon Plishker, representing the International Consortium
for the Environment, testified on interim charge #3.
At 2:00 p.m. Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Dr. Claudia Miller, representing the International Consortium
for the Environment, testified on interim charge #3.
Chairman Lucio read a letter for the record from County Judge
Dolores Briones regarding border issues.
Mr. Glen Provost, representing the Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center, testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Jose Manuel de la Rosa, representing Texas Tech at El Paso,
testified on interim charge #3.
Mr. Richard Adauto, representing the University of Texas at El
Paso, testified on interim charge #3.
Dr. Kemble Bennett, representing the Texas Engineering Extension
Service, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Chuck Phinney, representing the Texas Engineering Extension
Service, testified on interim charge #2.
Commissioner Karen Hale, representing the Texas Department of
Mental Health and Mental Retardation, testified on interim
charge #3.
Mr. Ignacio Madera, Jr., representing the Texas Water
Development Board, testified on interim charge #2.
Mr. Steve Niemeyer, representing the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission, testified on interim charge #2.
Ms. Karen Chapman, representing the Texas Center for Policy
Studies, testified on interim charge #2.
At 3:49 p.m. Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair.
There being no further business, at 3:55 p.m. Senator Shapleigh
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair
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Stephanie R. Hoover, Clerk