State Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas House of Representatives is to send a Resolution to President Trump outlining its strong support for trade with Mexico.
The resolution will also be sent to Speaker Paul Ryan and all members of the Texas delegation in Congress, with a request that it be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
House Resolution 1025 is authored by state Rep. Terry of Canales. The Edinburg Democrat worked on the language with state Rep. Tan Parker, a Republican from Flower Mound who chairs the House Committee on Investments and Financial Services and who sits on the House Committee on International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs. Co-authored by Reps. Mark Keough of The Woodlands, Pancho Nevárez of Eagle Pass, R.D. 'Bobby' Guerra of McAllen, and Richard Peña Raymond of Laredo, HR 1025 was provisionally passed by the House on Thursday by a vote of 130 to 13. Rep. Keough, a Republican, is vice-chair of the House Committee on International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs.
"Coming from a border community, we understand the value of our relationship with Mexico. We see it in the history we share, the foods we eat, and even in the cars we drive," Canales told the Rio Grande Guardian.
"For many, our relationship with Mexico provides good-paying jobs for our friends and family. It is our duty to share the message of the importance of the Texas-Mexico relationship with the rest of the state and country. All decisions made in Washington, D.C., in regards to Texas-Mexico trade will have ripple effects throughout Texas and the rest of the country. This resolution clarifies that the Texas House of Representatives stands in support of trade between our two countries and sees the importance of maintaining stable trade policies between us.”
Canales introduced HR 1025 earlier in the legislative session to coincide with International Trade Day in Austin, an initiative championed by the Lower Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Camara de Comercio Internacional, and the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Here is the resolution:
By: Canales H.R. No. 1025
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Trade between Texas and Mexico plays a vital role in the economic prosperity of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Texas sends about 36 percent of the state ’s total exports to Mexico, and in 2015, exports to Mexico totaled nearly $92.5 million; goods exported to Mexico include computer and electronic products, petroleum and coal products, chemicals, machinery, and transportation equipment, all of which are produced by industries that supply hundreds of thousands of jobs to the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Since the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, the export of U.S. goods to Mexico has risen 325 percent, while imports into the United States from Mexico have increased 458 percent; in 2012, Americans spent $277.5 billion for goods from Mexico, and Mexico is America ’s third-largest supplier of oil, after Canada and Saudi Arabia; additionally, nearly half of the tomatoes and two-thirds of the mangoes consumed in the United States come from Mexico; and
WHEREAS, The importance of this trade to Texas border cities, counties, and businesses is significant, and disruption to international commerce would be economically devastating; and
WHEREAS, Mexico is the largest trading partner of Texas and the third-largest of the United States, and it is imperative that our federal government take proactive steps to strengthen ties with Mexico and build bridges of economic opportunity that will benefit Texas and the entire nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby urge the United States Congress to recognize the importance of trade between Texas and Mexico and foster international commerce; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the house forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
