81R4647 CBE-D
By: Lucio III, Alonzo, Burnam H.C.R. No. 75
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Lower Rio Grande Valley region of Texas is one of
the state's treasured gems; a well-known agricultural center, the
valley also boasts a dynamic economy, a unique border culture, and
some of the most biologically diverse habitats in the country; yet
the construction of a fence along the Texas-Mexico border is
putting the very viability of the area at stake; and
WHEREAS, The Secure Fence Act of 2006 calls for "at least two
layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional
physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors" along
more than 700 miles of the southern border of the United States,
including the last 100 miles of the Rio Grande; the stated goal of
the act is to "achieve operational control over U.S. international
land and maritime borders," but even the Department of Homeland
Security concedes that fencing will not stop illegal crossings and
that, at best, it will merely slow crossers down; and
WHEREAS, A border wall would negatively impact a broad array
of valley residents; farmers would be cut off from their primary
source of water, the Rio Grande, and business owners would lose a
significant portion of their customer base, Mexican nationals who
cross the border year-round to shop; many landowners would be
forced to relinquish their property, and a considerable number of
valley residents would be separated from relatives on the other
side of the river; and
WHEREAS, Perhaps most vulnerable of all would be the natural
environment; millions of dollars and countless hours of work have
been spent restoring the river corridor; such protected sites as
the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, the Bentsen-Rio Grande
Valley State Park and World Birding Center, Sabal Palm Audubon
Center and Sanctuary, the NABA International Butterfly Park, and
the Lennox Foundation Southmost Preserve today support 20
endangered species and provide a vital stopover for millions of
migrating birds, bats, and butterflies; and
WHEREAS, The area draws nearly 200,000 wildlife tourists each
year, bringing some $150 million into otherwise impoverished
communities; the erection of a fence in this region would directly
impact critical wildlife habitat, increase soil erosion along the
floodplain, and eliminate wildlife access to the Rio Grande, the
only reliable source of fresh water around; and
WHEREAS, The Congressional Research Service estimates that a
700-mile fence, including repairs and maintenance, would cost up to
$49 billion over the course of 25 years; for a relatively
inefficient method of border security, this is simply not a sound
investment of taxpayer funds; in addition, our federal officials
must be made to realize that erecting a border fence will send a
flagrantly undiplomatic message to Mexico and will bring
irrevocable cultural, economic, and ecological losses to the Rio
Grande Valley; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby urge the Congress of the United States to explore
alternative means to border security in South Texas other than the
fencing described in the Secure Fence Act; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the
senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the
Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this
resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.