REQUEST THAT THE FEDERAL AND STATE INSPECTION AGENCIES AT THE PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG THE U. S. – MEXICO BORDER WORK TO HARMONIZE AND MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT INSPECTION PROCESS, IDENTIFYING DISCREPANCIES IN CURRENT PROCEDURES AND PROMOTING OUTREACH, IN ORDER TO FACILITATE A SMOOTH INTERCHANGE OF BI-NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

PROMOTE PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH, PHYTOSANITARY/SANITARY AND FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES, AS WELL AS QUALITY ASSURANCE MEASURES THAT ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF CONSUMERS IN BOTH COUNTRIES, BY ENCOURAGING STATE AGRICULTURAL AGENCIES TO ENHANCE COOPERATION IN THEIR COLLECTIVE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION TO PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF BI-NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND ACADEMIC EXCHANGE PROGRAMS INTENDED TO ADDRESS RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND CROSS-BORDER MARKETING NEEDS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS IN BOTH COUNTRIES.

REQUEST THAT BOTH FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THE ORIGINAL TRUCKING REGULATION PROVISIONS, INCLUDING PHASING, OF NAFTA WHICH ALLOW FOR BOTH U. S. AND MEXICAN TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES TO OPERATE FREELY WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE BORDER STATES.

• The U.S. border states participated in conference calls with the U.S. Trade Representative regarding NAFTA trucking issues.

OPPOSE ANY EXIT CONTROL SYSTEM AT BORDER PORTS OF ENTRY THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS TRADE, TOURISM OR OTHER LEGITIMATE CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC, AND RECOMMEND THAT SECTION 110 BE AMENDED IN FAVOR OF A MORE TRADE-EFFICIENT AND BORDER-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE.

EXPAND AND PROMOTE THE BORDER STATES’ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEB PAGE, WHICH OFFERS INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS, DIRECTORIES OF THE PRINCIPAL COMPANIES IN THE REGION, AS WELL AS A CALENDAR OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LOCAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOWS.

PROMOTE THE PARTICIPATION OF ENTREPRENEURS TO THE REGION’S MOST IMPORTANT TRADE SHOWS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, BASED ON THE STRENGTHS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH STATE OR SUB-REGION, THUS CONTRIBUTING TO A MORE EFFECTIVE REGIONAL INTEGRATION.

STRENGTHEN AND PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL TECHNICAL TRAINING AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THE WELFARE AND PROSPERITY OF THE ECONOMIES AND RESIDENTS OF OUR REGION.

PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE THE EFFICACY AND FLUENCY OF ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

REVITALIZE THE EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES AND PROGRAMS IN THE BORDER STATES TO EXPAND, COORDINATE AND CONSOLIDATE ACADEMIC, TECHNICAL, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES.

REQUEST THAT THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RESTORE THE BUDGET FOR THE BORDER ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (BEIF) TO AT LEAST $100 MILLION PER YEAR, AS PROJECTED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK’S (NADBANK) TEN-YEAR NEEDS ASSESSMENT, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE SUBSTANTIAL DEFICIENCIES IN THE BORDER REGION AND RECOGNIZING THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED WITH THESE FUNDS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

REQUEST THAT BOTH FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS INFORM RESPECTIVE STATES IN WRITING ABOUT PROPOSED PROJECTS WITH POTENTIAL TRANSBOUNDARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, AND ACT IMMEDIATELY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT, RECOGNIZING THAT THE BORDER STATES WILL COORDINATE AND NOTIFY ALL AFFECTED STATES.

PROTECT SHARED WATER RESOURCES IN THE BORDER REGION BY ENCOURAGING APPROPRIATE STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION POLICIES FOR ALL WATER USE SECTORS.

REQUEST THAT MEXICO’S SECRETARIAT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND FISHERIES (SEMARNAP) AND THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA), DEVELOP A BINATIONAL PROGRAM WITH STATE INPUT FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND HANDLING AND MANAGEMENT OF PESTICIDES, FERTILIZERS, AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES USED IN AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK INDUSTRIES IN ORDER TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.

REQUEST THAT EACH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCREASE THE APPROPRIATION FROM $1.6 MILLION TO AT LEAST $2 MILLION FROM EACH COUNTRY TO THE BORDER ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION COMMISSION (BECC), THROUGH MEXICO’S SECRETARIAT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND FISHERIES (SEMARNAP) AND THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PROJECT APPROVAL PROCESS, INCLUDING REEVALUATION OF CRITERIA AND CERTIFICATION OF PROJECTS PROPOSED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

REQUEST THAT THE NORTH AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (NADBANK) AND THE BORDER ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION COMMISSION (BECC) INCLUDE A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH COUNTRY ON THE U.S.-MEXICO INFRASTRUCTURE COORDINATION COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO INCORPORATE STATE INTERESTS.

INCLUDE WITHIN THE ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE STATE TOURISM OFFICES, AS WELL AS WITHIN NATIONAL TOURISM PROGRAMS, PROMOTION OF BORDER CULTURAL HERITAGE, HISTORIC CORRIDORS AND ECOTOURISM, TAKING ADVANTAGE THE NATURAL SCENIC DIVERSITY IN THE BORDER REGION.

• Arizona and Sonora established Arizona-Sonora Real Estate Task Force to promote the development in Sonora of real estate practices that will protect buyers and help the area’s beach resorts realize their development potential.

JOINTLY DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT INFORM AND ASSIST POTENTIAL TRAVELERS TO THE BORDER REGION REGARDING RULES AND LAWS ABOUT TRANSPORTING VEHICLES AND FIREARMS, INSURANCE COVERAGE AND IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS PROCEDURES.

JOINTLY WORK TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A MECHANISM TO CONSISTENTLY AND ACCURATELY COLLECT INFORMATION REGARDING THE VOLUME OF CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL AND TRAVELERS, TO GAIN COMPARABLE DATA TO MEASURE THE IMPORTANCE OF BORDER TOURISM.