Speech #1000007415

Mr. Speaker. today I am introducing legislation designed as an innovative approach to a number of difficult problems facing this countrycompetitiveness. a depressed border economy. and a continuing influx of illegal aliens across our border. Last session. several of my colleagues from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus joined with me to sponsor legislation aimed at revitalizing the economy of the border region shared by the United States and Mexico. When the House considered the immigration reform bill. I offered an amendment authorizing the President to negotiate the establishment of a freetrade and coproduction zone. on a mutually beneficial basis with Mexico. This amendment was accepted by the House. during the HouseSenate conference. however. the amendment was turned into a sense of Congress resolution in the bill. urging the Committee on Ways and Means to hold hearings on this concept during the 100th Congress. I fought to include this concept as an amendment to the immigration bill because I felt that throughout the extensive debate on immigration reform. the Congress was missing the point. The major factor behind illegal immigration is economics. If we do not work with