I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2928
To authorize the Secretary of State, acting through the Commissioner of
the International Boundary and Water Commission, to conclude agree-
ments with the appropriate representative of the Government of Mexico
to correct pollution along the United States-Mexico border.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 6, 1993
Mr. DE LA GARZA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of State, acting through the Com-
missioner of the International Boundary and Water Com-
mission, to conclude agreements with the appropriate
representative of the Government of Mexico to correct
pollution along the United States-Mexico border.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AGREEMENTS TO CORRECT POLLUTION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, acting
through the United States Commissioner, International
Boundary and Water Commission, United States and
Mexico (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
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sioner’’), is authorized to conclude agreements with the
appropriate representative of the Ministry of Foreign Re-
lations of Mexico for the purpose of correcting the inter-
national problem of pollution of the areas along the United
States-Mexico border caused by discharge of raw and in-
adequately treated sewage and other pollution related
problems along the border.
(b) CONTENT OF AGREEMENTS.—Agreements con-
cluded under subsection (a) should consist of rec-
ommendations to the Governments of the United States
and Mexico of measures to protect the health and welfare
of persons along the United States-Mexico border from the
effects of pollution, including—
(1) facilities that should be constructed, oper-
ated, and maintained in each country;
(2) estimates of the cost of the planning, con-
struction, operation, and maintenance of the facili-
ties referred to in paragraph (1);
(3) formulas for the initial division between the
United States and Mexico of the cost of the plan-
ning, construction, operation, and maintenance of
the facilities referred to in paragraph (1);
(4) a method for review and adjustment of the
formulas referred to in paragraph (3) at intervals of
five years that recognizes that such initial formulas
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should not be used as a precedent in their subse-
quent review and adjustment; and
(5) dates for the beginning and completion of
construction of the facilities referred to in paragraph
(1).
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF STATE TO PLAN,
CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN FA-
CILITIES.
The Secretary of State, acting through the Commis-
sioner, is authorized to act jointly with the appropriate
representative of the Government of Mexico and to super-
vise—
(1) the planning of, and
(2) the construction, operation, and mainte-
nance of,
the facilities recommended in agreements concluded pur-
suant to section 2 and approved by the Government of
the United States and Mexico.
SEC. 3. CONSULTATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND
OTHER AUTHORITIES.
The Secretary of State shall consult with the Admin-
istrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and other
concerned Federal, State, and local government officials
in implementing this Act.
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SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as
may be necessary for the United States to fund its share
of the cost of the plans, construction, operation, and main-
tenance of the facilities recommended in agreements con-
cluded pursuant to section 1 and approved by the Govern-
ments of the United States and Mexico.
SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, acting
through the Commissioner, shall prepare an annual report
regarding the activities of the International Boundary and
Water Commission, including the implementation of this
Act, for each fiscal year as provided in subsection (b).
Such report shall be submitted to the President, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Majority
Leader of the Senate not later than ninety days after the
end of each fiscal year.
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include—
(1) a summary of the activities of the Commis-
sion during the fiscal year;
(2) a review of the international problem of pol-
lution of the areas along the United States-Mexico
border caused by discharge of raw and inadequately
treated sewage and other wastes from populated
areas along the border;
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(3) a summary of the progress made by the
Commissioner during the fiscal year in concluding
any agreement authorized under section 1(a);
(4) a summary of the recommendations in-
cluded in any such agreement under consideration or
concluded during the fiscal year, as provided in sec-
tion 1(b);
(5) a summary of the progress made toward
fulfilling the recommendations included in any such
concluded agreement;
(6) a summary of the actions taken by the
Commissioner to plan, construct, operate, and main-
tain facilities as authorized under section 2;
(7) a summary of the consultations made with
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency and other concerned Federal, State, and
local government officials as required under section
3;
(8) any recommendations that the Commis-
sioner determines will be beneficial in correcting the
international problem of pollution of the areas along
the United States-Mexico border caused by discharge
of raw and inadequately treated sewage and other
wastes from populated areas along the border; and
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(9) such other information as the Commissioner
determines is necessary or appropriate.
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