Speech #960259206

Federal and State spending for construction of the crossing will become available and the roads leading up to the border gate will increase employment and create the climate to induce further investment. In this way. the high unemployment rate of San Ysidro can be brought down. The Mexican Government also believes the second border crossing to be a crucial element in their development strategy for the Mexican border region. Implementation of three major public projects have been underway since 1976 within Tijuana. The projects. Rio Tijuana. Mesa de Otay. and Ciudad Industrial Nueva Tijuana. are all contingent in some way on the construction of the new border gate. The General Services Administration has studied the overall problems confronting the San Diego border crossing and has recommended construction of the OtayMesa border station and has submitted their findings to both House and Senate committees. The station is included in the Presidents budget for 1981 at a cost of $12.1 million. I ask unanimous consent that the prospectus/executive summary on the need for this second border station be printed in the RECORD following my remarks. and I ask favorable consideration of my amendment.