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
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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.
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Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair
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Laura Garcia, Clerk