HOUSE MEMORIAL 4

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Bill McCamley

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUPPORT NEW MEXICO'S TRADE WITH MEXICO BY INCREASING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXTENDING HOURS OF OPERATION AT THE SANTA TERESA PORT OF ENTRY.

 

     WHEREAS, New Mexico led the nation in growth in exports to Mexico in 2014, with a ninety-three percent increase in the value of the state's exports, and New Mexico has more than doubled its total exports over the past four years; and

     WHEREAS, the Las Cruces metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the United States office of management and budget, led the nation in the increase of exports during the last three years, representing a two hundred ten percent increase; and

     WHEREAS, the Farmington metropolitan statistical area was ranked second in the nation for its one hundred forty percent increase in exports; and

     WHEREAS, the Santa Fe metropolitan statistical area was ranked fifth in the nation for its one hundred two percent increase in exports; and

     WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of Dona Ana county's exports are exported to Mexico, and approximately sixty-five percent, or one-billion-dollars ($1,000,000,000) worth, of New Mexico's total exports to Mexico originate in Santa Teresa; and

     WHEREAS, more than one-billion-dollars ($1,000,000,000) worth of products cross the Santa Teresa port of entry each month; and

     WHEREAS, during the first half of 2015, the state's exports to Mexico increased by seventy-eight percent compared to exports to Mexico in 2014; and

     WHEREAS, the increase in the state's exports to Mexico creates beneficial opportunities for the state via new tax assessment bases and opportunities for local suppliers, new commercial bases and the creation of higher paying export-based jobs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the United States department of homeland security be requested to support New Mexico in its trade with Mexico through the Santa Teresa port of entry by:

          A. providing for additional port infrastructure, including the installation of additional commercial and private vehicle port traffic lanes;

          B. extending the hours of operation at the port to 12:00 a.m. to align with the hours of operation at the two El Paso commercial ports of entry;

          C. establishing twenty-four-hours-per-day operation at the port for private vehicle traffic through the port; and

          D. dedicating additional personnel or personnel hours to the port to allow for extended hours of operation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States department of homeland security consider whether the above support could be achieved through a federal public-private partnership through which private entities and local governments share expenses; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation and to the secretary of homeland security for the United States.

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