WASHINGTON, D.C.— An overflow crowd of more than 200 capped Thursday's closing sessions of the 4TH Annual U.S.-Mexico Border Conference, as Congressional officials, border experts and other officials from U.S. and Mexican governments identified solutions and timetables for the Southwest Border region's many complex problems.

This has been our most successful conference yet," said Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-El Paso). "We are speaking here with one collective voice and letting everyone know that we, the border, have substantive ideas and expect action."

Reyes, along with the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, hosted the event with an agenda filled with critical issues that affect the border economy, environment, health, education, and workforce. Some of those who attended the conference were Dr. Lynda de la Viña, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Department of Treasury; Henry Solano, Solicitor General at the Department of Labor; Juarez Mayor Gustavo Elizondo; El Paso County Judge Dolores Briones; Mayor of Del Rio, Texas, Roberto Chavira; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Pete Parraz; and U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce President Al Zapanta.

The Border Security and Immigration Task Force Working Group's panel featured Del Rio Mayor Roberto Chavira who presented the unique challenges faced by local communities on the border. Gus De La Vina, Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, provided an overview of the enforcement efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service along the border. Ralph Sheridan highlighted the opportunities for technology and commerce along the border, while Joel Najar from the National Council of La Raza provided valuable insight from the advocacy community.

The Border Security and Immigration Working Group stressed the importance of using technology to solve many of the problems with border security and illegal immigration. Congressman Reyes passionately spoke about a program he is very excited about, one he feels will assist enforcement and facilitation of trade along the border, PFNA — Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis.

"The majority of drugs are entering our country in trucks crossing our Southern borders," said Reyes. "We need to balance the urgent need to thoroughly inspect and interdict drug shipments in fully loaded trucks and containers and the need to maintain the flow of commerce between neighbors. We have heard the phrase ‘seamless border' and heard of ways to accomplish the dream of a ‘seamless border.' I believe one critical component of a seamless border is the PFNA technology — the most remarkable technology I have seen in many years of law enforcement on the border." PFNA was developed as a partnership between government and industry to meet this extremely difficult requirement. The PFNA is the only non-intrusive, automatic, material specific inspection technology. The group also stressed the importance of communication between U.S./Mexico legislators and community outreach in order to have successful operation on the border.

At a reception Wednesday, Elizondo and Reyes exchanged views on the importance of always keeping open dialogue and diplomacy between the two countries. This relationship was recently tested last month with the encounter of U.S. Border Patrol and Mexican Army units near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

"It pleases me to have at our conference Mayor Elizonda and other city and state officials along both sides of the border, because as decision-makers, if we do not unite our ideas and perspectives, and if we do not have an understanding of one another's weaknesses and strengths, then we will not be able to take the border to the next and highest levels," said Reyes.

The Working Group also agreed that 245(i) of the Immigration Act should also be reinstated so that many of the immigrants who are currently out of status can adjust their status by paying a fee and not being forced to leave the country.

The Economic Development and Infrastructure Working Group recommended that a "one stop" approach to facilitating traffic across the U.S.-Mexico border would be of great importance to the economic development of the border region. The "one-stop" approach would promote better and faster trade of goods and services. There are still long lines of trucks and cars at many border crossing points, with delays sometimes several hours long. Idling trucks have a negative impact on air quality along the border.

The Working Group suggested better coordination between state and federal agencies, opening of the border to trucks as called for in the NAFTA agreement, and the development of separate commuter passages across the border. The Working Group also suggested that Congress examine the expansion of U.S. grant funding for projects that span across both sides of the border, authorize U.S. agencies to support a more holistic approach to economic development on the U.S. side of the border, and that Congress should also examine the structure and goals of BECC and the NADBank. Currently the NADBank works on callable capital, which limits the subsidy element of its loans.

The environmental infrastructure needs on the border are daunting. The BECC estimates that a third of the residents of the border area in Mexico have no wastewater treatment and 27 percent on the U.S. side have inadequate waste water treatment. With the current population, the estimate to solve this problem involves $1.5 billion on the Mexican side and $1.4 billion on the U.S. side. And the population along the border is expected to double over the next 20 years. Dealing with solid waste is another major environmental hurdle. The projects approved by the BECC and supported by the NADBank involve 36 projects benefitting 6.5 million people. While impressive, this is only a small part of the actual needs of the border. Alternative sources of funding for the NADBank could make this organization far more developmental and effective.

The Health and Environment Working Group suggested more regional planning and coordination of natural resource and environmental issues including watersheds, airsheds, and conservation. The Working Group also suggested fiscal support for the EPA and other border programs specifically working with border capacity, and border infrastructure needs. They also felt very strongly about implementing bilingual mechanisms to be used to educate the public and private industry about environmental laws and issues. There is also a need to support Brownfield mediation modeling for private sector acquisition, titling, and return to commercially viable use.

The Education and the Workforce Working Group concluded that the Federal Bilingual Education Programs need more overall support, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) should be re-authorized, and all programs remain in ESEA, and there should be more accountability in schools. With respect to the workforce, since many of the border areas have a high unemployment rate due to the lack of jobs and the need for a more prepared workforce the group immediately suggested more adult education and workforce related training.

A report will be developed by Reyes to include recommendations to improve the border region and will be distributed to the White House and Senate and House Appropriations Committees.

For more information please call Yvette Pena at (202) 226-8335