THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES, SHARING MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND MILES OF COMMON BORDER, ARE TWO SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT NATIONS, EACH WITH ITS OWN CLEAR IDENTITY AND EACH INITIATING AN ERA OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE THAT OFFERS AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY FOR COOPERATION;

OUR NATIONS, UNITED AS NEVER BEFORE BY COMMON INTERESTS AND OPEN DIALOGUE, ARE DETERMINED TO SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SCALE NEW HEIGHTS TOGETHER AND TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT WILL NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN US;

THIS DETERMINATION FINDS ITS CENTER AT THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER REGION, ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC REGIONS OF THE WORLD, WHERE AN ENLIGHTENED PHILOSOPHY OF BOUNDARIES BECOMES THE IMPETUS FOR COOPERATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT;

THE TEN STATES COMPRISING THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER REGION POSSESS INHERENT COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SYNERGIES THAT ENABLE JOINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THEREBY INCREASING TRADE AND FOSTERING REGIONAL INTEGRATION;

BOTH NATIONS MUST INVEST IN MODERN AND EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AT THEIR PORTS OF ENTRY TO INCREASE TRADE AND STRENGTHEN COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE ALONG THE BORDER, THUS ENABLING THE SPIRIT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA) TO REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL;

THE BORDER REGION MUST CONDUCT THE EXCHANGE OF GOODS AND SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE LEGAL TRANSIT OF PEOPLE, IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER, with respect for human dignity and protection of the public’s health, TO PROMOTE TRADE AND TOURISM WHILE PROJECTING A POSITIVE IMAGE OF OUR BORDER;

THE BORDER STATES SHOULD ENHANCE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS BY PROMOTING AN INTEGRATED EDUCATION POLICY THAT WILL DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE, BILINGUAL and healthy WORK FORCE;

THE BORDER STATES SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEIR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP A NEW APPROACH TO ECONOMIC MIGRATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE WORK FORCE NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN THE BORDER REGION;

THE BORDER STATES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ACKNOWLEDGE AND SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE BORDER BY IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS AIMED AT CONSERVING THE WEALTH OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE REGION;

THE BORDER STATES UNITE IN THE DESIRE TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL COOPERATION TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN OUR REGION, PARTICULARLY BY WORKING TOGETHER TO COMBAT FOREST FIRES AND REDUCE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT AND FLOODING OCCURRING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER;

THE FREQUENT WORK MEETINGS HELD BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE BORDER STATES HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR ONGOING DIALOGUE AND CONSULTATION, AS WELL AS A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE GOVERNORS OF THE BORDER STATES, ALLOWING THEM TO DISCUSS OPENLY THE DIVERSE AND COMPLEX TOPICS THAT CONSTITUTE THE WORK TABLES INCLUDED IN THE XIX BORDER GOVERNORS CONFERENCE;

THIS UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE GOVERNORS OF THE BORDER STATES AND THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS HAS GENERATED A NEW SPIRIT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO, THUS ENABLING US TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL PEOPLE ALONG OUR COMMON BORDER;

WE, THE BORDER GOVERNORS, ENDORSING THIS JOINT DECLARATION, HEREBY ADOPT THE FOLLOWING TOPICS OF SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE TO THE BORDER REGION:

1. WORK with the united states department of agriculture (usda) and the SECRETARÍA de agricultura, GANADERÍA, desarollo rural, pesca y alimentaciÓn (sagarpa) to allocate additional resources to support prevention, control and eradication programs for animal and plant pests and diseases, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF INCREASING EXCHANGE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE BORDER REGION.
   
2. Recommend That the united states department of agriculture (usda), UNITED STATES customs, uNITED STATES food and drug administration (usfda), and the secretarÍa de agricultura, ganaderÍa, desarollo rural, pesca y alimentaciÓn (sagarpa) authorize the Border States to establish mechanisms to allow joint verification and certification of compliance with CURRENT REGULATIONS regarding animal and plant health and food safety in agricultural products, as well as recognition of existing programs.
   
3. Collaborate with THE united states department of agriculture (usda), the united States Food and DRUG Administration (USFDA) and the secretarÍa de agricultura, ganaderÍa, desarollo rural, pesca y alimentaciÓn (sagarpa) in the REVISIoN and update of protocols that prevent the introduction of exotic animal/plant pests and diseases, with special emphasis on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth disease at domestic and international levels.
   
4. Promote coordinated EFFORTs among research institutions to SCHEDULE and foster agricultural research, training and technology transfer in the agricultural sector, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BEST CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN THE USE OF WATER AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES IN SEMI-ARID AREAS.
   
5. Request that the united states department of agriculture (usda), UNITED STATES customs service, uNITED STATES food and drug administration (USfda), the secretarÍa de agricultura, ganaderÍa, desarollo rural, pesca y alimentaciÓn (sagarpa), procuradurÍa general de la repÚblica (pgr), AND THE secretarÍa de la defensa nacional (sedena) IMPLEMENT modern, comprehensive and systemATIC inspection and certification processes at the check points, in order to expedite TRADE while maintaining the quality and saFETY of agricultural commodities.

 BORDER CROSSINGS 

1. request that the UNITED STATES department of transportation (usdot) continue with the augmentation of the "Border and Corridors" elements of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), and THAT the secretaria de comunicaciones y transportes (sct) allocate appropriate resources to the mexican border states on an ongoing basis to plan, design and build infrastructure projects, IN ORDER to improve the efficiency, safety and security of the border crossings AND THE CORRIDORS THAT LEAD TO THEM, so that the uNITED STATES and mexico can achieve similar results on both sides of the border.
   
2. request that Federal Inspection Services (FIS) involved in border activities reduce border crossing delays to maximumS of fifteen (15) minutes for passenger vehicles and twenty (20) minutes for commercial vehicles, AND THAT THEY establish a permanent efficiency and control evaluation system for border crossings, due to the environmental, social and economic importance of THESE international ports of entry.
   
3. REQUEST THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES COORDINATE WITH LOCAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES TO DEVELOP AND COORDINATE SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG RANGE PLANS AND PROJECTS FOR BORDER CROSSINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS. THESE PLANS WILL BE THE BASIS FOR ACTIONS AND THE ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL RESOURCES.
   
4. create Binational State-to-state Groups composed of locaL AND state AGENCIES, local REPRESENTATIVES OF FEDERAL INSPECTION agencies, AND the private sector to improve communication and coordination relative to a safe and efficient border crossing with the goal of achieving a coordinated port management system.
   
5. PARTICIPATE WITH The task force established under section 3 of the immigration and naturalization service data management improvement act of 2000 TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR SECTION 110 OF THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT (IIRIRA) THAT WOULD NOT IMPEDE TRADE, TOURISM OR OTHER LEGItiMATE CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC.
   
6. request that the united states federal government provide new funding opportunities relating to implementation of the trucking provisions OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA) to the border states and that the requisite grant applications prepared by the respective states be given High consideration. These funds will enable the border states to improve overall port performance, increase personnel as necessary, and to accelerate the clearance of compliant commercial vehicles.

 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. COMPILE ALL THE BORDER STATES’ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION AND STUDIES REGARDING STRATEGIC ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CLUSTERS, MAQUILADORA PLANTS, OTHER INDUSTRY SECTORS, SMALL BUSINESS AND FREE TRADE AGREEMENT DISPUTE RESOLUTION, IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY AND JOINTLY DEVELOP AREAS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE BORDER REGION.
   
2. WORK JOINTLY TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT AND PROMOTE TRADE BY UTILIZING ALL AVAILABLE PROMOTIONAL TOOLS, SUCH AS TRADE SHOWS, TRADE MISSIONS, INTERNET ADVERTISING AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A ONE-STOP FACILITATION PROCESS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR COMPANIES WANTING TO LOCATE IN THE BORDER REGION.
   
3. promote and obtain financing to develop basic infrastructure throughout the BORDER region by sharing information on PROGRAMS SUCH AS THOSE PROVIDED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (NADBANK), THE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (IDB) AND THE WORLD BANK.

1. promote JOINT collaboratiVE efforts to expand, revitalize and enhance the public educational structures and programs in the border states in order to facilitate the continuation and expansion of activities involved in the completion of a Pre-K through 16 education.
   
2. Strengthen and promote collaboratiVE efforts to expand and enhance current programs and create new ones within the higher education structures in the Border States in order to facilitate professional exchanges, workforce development and research opportunities.
   
3. RECOMMEND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BORDER STATES, ESTABLISH a UNITED STATES-MEXICO Border Commission on Education TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES for inhabitants of the border region.

1. implement recognition programs to encourage positive actions towards the protection, conservation and improvement of the environment and the quality of life in the border region, Using current state-to-state models as a foundation.
   
2. Establish a system between AND AMONG the Ten BORDER States, in coordination with THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA) AND THE SECRETARIA DE MEDIO AMBIENTE Y RECURSOS NATURALES (SEMARNAT), for trans-boundary notification of proposed projects with a potential environmental impact within the 100-KILOMETER border region.
   
3. DEVELOP, in conjunction with THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA), THE SECRETARIA DE MEDIO AMBIENTE Y RECURSOS NATURALES (SEMARNAT) and interested municipalities, the next phase of the binational environmental program to implement the Principles of Coordination and to obtain federal funding within a structure that identifies regional priorities.
   
4. promotE water conservation and water quality improvement methods for addressing BORDER water ISSUES, including the designation of a "Border Water Conservation Day," IN RecogniTION that a clean and SUFFICIENT supply of WATER is key to the sustainable development of the border region.

1. establish a Binational Border Health Information System for the 10 border states through the integration of a "Binational Technical Health Information System Working Group," TO PREVENT AND REACT TO epidimiologicaL CONTINGENCIES.
   
2. Establish common health indicators for developing joint strategic border health planning.
   
3. ESTABLISH A COMMISSION OF SCHOLARS COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF EACH BORDER STATE TO STUDY THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM FROM A SOCIAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AND TO FORMULATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES OF BOTH COUNTRIES. THIS COMMISSION WILL MEET NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER OF 2001 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO.

1. support, preserve and promote JOINTLY the natural and cultural diversity and the scenic beauty of the border region through education and the marketing of historic, cultural and ecotourisM corridors.
   
2. DEVELOP jointly a comprehensive information program that informs and assists potential travelers regarding THEIR rights and obligations, INCLUDING THOSE PERTAINING TO TAXES AND IMMIGRATION, TO enhance THE experience OF VISITORS to the border region.
   
3. establish a joint program to monitor and oppose new measures AND encouragE modifications to existing measures relating to general, migration and tax matters that negatively impact tourism, economic development AND the transit of people, IN ORDER To further border region tourism.
   
4. design and implement Jointly 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.

As a result of the work meeting in which we, the Border Governors, participated, we propose expanding the work agenda of the Conference, agreeing to include in this Joint Declaration the following points:

We, the Governors, recognize the importance of the Binational Commission in the definition of the bilateral agenda. For this reason, we reiterate our request that the federal governments accept the participation of two representatives from the Border Governors Conference, one from each country, in the U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission meetings, as requested by Governors Yarrington and Hull in the letter sent this past February to Presidents Vicente Fox and George W. Bush.

1. The Governors recognize that the North American Development Bank (NADBank) is an institution that has generated benefits that we should extend and multiply in the region.
   
2. We propose that A LETTTER BE SENT TO THE BECC AND THE NADbANK REQUESTING THAT THEY MEET WITH A FACILITATOR AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON HOW THEY BOTH WILL MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS OUTLINED BY THE GOVERNORS.

 WATER

1. we governors agree THAT WATER should be A PRIORITY ISSUE IN THE BINATIONAL AGENDA AND will WORK JOINTLY TO IDENTIFY MEASURES OF COOPERATION ON DROUGHT MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER RESOURCES IN THE BORDER REGION.

1. We, the Governors, agree that the fight against drug traffic should bind us and that the drug abuse problem is a phenomenon that no country or region can face alone.
   
2. We propose the establishment of cooperative mechanisms between the Border States to share information and experiences pertaining to preventative programs and to coordinate among law enforcement authorities.
   
3. TO THIS END WE HAVE AGREED TO CARRY OUT IN HERMOSILLO, SONORA, ON SEPTEMBER 21 AND 22, A SPECIAL MEETING ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS MEETING SHALL BRING TOGETHER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE MEXICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, the attorneys general and DIRECTORS OF public safety OF THE U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER STATES, AS WELL AS THE DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS OF THE FBI, DEA AND BORDER PATROL.