Date: 1987-10-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank my distinguished colleague for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker. I rise briefly only to extend my appreciation to Chairman FASCELL. Chairman YATRON. Chairman CROcKETT. the gentleman from California [Mr. LEvINEI. the gentleman from Michigan . and all members of the Foreign Affairs Committee for their cooperation in this endeavor. This certainly is needed legislation. I would hope that this would be one step in helping us to correct something that badly needs to be done along the Rio Grande. Mr. Speaker. in addition to the discussion which we will conduct this afternoon on my bill H.R. 2046 which calls for negotiations with Mexico on pollution of the Rio Grande. I would like for the record to reflect a few personal observations. For many years prior to today. I have been fortunate to benefit from the help of Joseph Friedkin who just recently retired as head of the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. Commissioner Friedkin and I have .long shared a desire to correct the problems which contribute to pollution of the Rio Grande. and I could not allow this day to pass without paying tribute to my good friend anda man who throughout his life was a major benefactor of the river. His concepts. and my desire on seeing this to a successful legislative end. have combined to produce the bill H.R. 2046. Many of our colleagues who have known me for many years have heard me speak about my homeland of the Rio Grande Valley. The river we call the Rio Grande means "Big River" or "Great River." And the river has always played a central and prominent role in the lives of those who make this part of Texas their home. The Rio Grande has enabled us to turn the fertile soil of the region into a flowering gardenboasting nearly $500 million in yearly sales of dozens of horticultural crops and grains. Without the river. this would not have been possible. The river has given life to deep south Texas and now the river needs our help. My bill.. on which our friend Representative ALBERT BUSTAMANTE is an original cosponsor. would do one main thing: It authorizes our U.S. Secretary of State to begin negotiations with appropriate Mexican representatives and it gives our Secretary the authority to conclude an international agreement with Mexico designed to curb pollution from raw and inadequately treated sewage and other municipal/industrial wastes. This international agreement would set up the framework for later. more detailed discussions about the proportionate contributions by each nation. Both the United States and Mexico would eventually provide an agreedon amount of money to be used in the construction of wastewater treatment facilities on both sides of the river. Our Department of State has written the esteemed chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to advise that the Secretary fully supports the purposes of H.R. 2046. So our bill today is a beginning stepand a very important oneon the way to ultimately correcting the pollution problem that is now plaguing the Rio Grande. We applaud our good neighbors in Mexico for their willingness to consider a joint approach to our mutual problem. The Rio Grande is as important to Mexico as it is to Texaswe share this boundary equally. It is my hope the House will approve H.R. 2046 to further our Nations commitment to cleanse our waterways and protect natural resources vital to agriculture production and potable water.