SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8

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

INTRODUCED BY

John Arthur Smith

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE BORDER AUTHORITY TO JOINTLY CREATE THE "NEW MEXICO-CHIHUAHUA SHARED INTEREST TASK FORCE" TO FACILITATE THE CULTIVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO STATES.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico and the state of Chihuahua of the Republic of Mexico share a common geographical border; and

     WHEREAS, a significant portion of New Mexico's border with Chihuahua includes southern Dona Ana county; and

     WHEREAS, there is significant economic growth in southern Dona Ana county; and

     WHEREAS, the state of Chihuahua experienced seven percent economic growth in 2015; and

     WHEREAS, the Santa Teresa port of entry for United States immigration and customs at the border with Chihuahua is experiencing increased traffic and inspections due to economic growth; and

     WHEREAS, the Santa Teresa port of entry is reaching capacity, but federal budget restraints make expansion challenging, although an increase in capacity is necessary to continue economic expansion in the Santa Teresa cross-border area; and

     WHEREAS, the Union Pacific railroad has recently completed a main railyard near Santa Teresa for expanded east-west rail traffic, and a feasibility study is under way for moving north-south rail traffic from the El Paso, Texas-Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, urban area to the Santa Teresa vicinity; and 

     WHEREAS, the Santa Teresa/San Jeronimo combined port of entry is a model of a cross-border development, supporting a bi-national community with coordinated master plans, foreign trade zones, industrial efficiency, a secured border region, quality residential living, joint health care and educational programs and combined truck, rail and air service that create a globally competitive industrial and logistics platform; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico state government and the Chihuahuan state government have great respect for each other and enjoy the benefits of cultural, economic and political cooperation; and

     WHEREAS, the trade and Mexican affairs division of the economic development department is responsible for conducting and coordinating the state's relations with the Republic of Mexico and the state of Chihuahua; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has established the New Mexico-Chihuahua commission, composed of the governor and New Mexico legislators, executive branch leaders and business leaders appointed by the governor, to stimulate trade efforts with Chihuahua, focusing on border crossings and infrastructure, education, economic development and trade, health, public safety, tourism and water, which meets regularly, culminating in an annual meeting between the governors of the two states; and

     WHEREAS, the universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua and New Mexico state university offer a joint educational program, and there is great potential for more such collaborative efforts between institutions of higher learning in both states; and

     WHEREAS, in the fall of 2015, the legislative finance committee, together with other New Mexico government and education leaders, made a field trip to Chihuahua to meet with Chihuahuan government leaders and business owners. The meetings advanced cooperation between the states, promoted job growth, increased educational opportunities and stimulated cultural awareness; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico and Chihuahua's shared history, language and culture provide opportunities to enrich the well-being of residents of both states; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico desires to continue its initiatives to advance cooperation between the states, promoting job growth, increased educational opportunities and cultural awareness; and

     WHEREAS, there is great future value in a regular schedule of meetings between government, education and business leaders from both states to address and improve relations regarding transportation and other infrastructure needs along the border, joint education programs and initiatives, joint cultural undertakings, economic development priorities and trade, academic and political missions;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the economic development department and the border authority be requested to jointly create a task force, to be known as the "New Mexico-Chihuahua shared interest task force". The function of the task force should be the improvement of relations and development of shared opportunities between the two states. The focus of the task force should be transportation and border infrastructure, economic development priorities, joint educational and cultural initiatives and future trade, academic and political missions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico-Chihuahua shared interest task force be composed of members of the legislature appointed by the New Mexico legislative council; representatives of New Mexico executive agencies, including the economic development department, the department of transportation, the border authority and the office of the state engineer; representatives from New Mexico's institutions of higher education; and representatives from New Mexico's business community; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico-Chihuahua shared interest task force be requested to convene quarterly meetings during each of calendar years 2016 and 2017 and to report the substance of the meetings and recommendations for legislative action to the legislative finance committee and to appropriate interim legislative committees prior to January 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor of New Mexico, the governor of the state of Chihuahua, the secretary of economic development, the secretary of transportation, the state engineer and the secretary of higher education.

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