Monday, August 18, 2008
(Transcript)
XXVI Border Governors Conference
August 13-15, 2008
Hollywood, California
Joint Declaration
Preamble
We, the Governors of the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas of the United States
of America, and the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Sonora and Tamaulipas of the United Mexican
States, as distinguished members of the Border Governors Conference, one of the world’s most important bi-national relationships,
restate our collective resolve to address issues of mutual importance in the United States-Mexico border region to the greatest
benefit of our people, economies and environment.
Whereas
The United States of America and the United Mexican States
are two sovereign and independent nations, each with its own clear identity;
These nations share the busiest international border in
the world spanning nearly 2,000 miles, with roughly 250 million people crossing annually, and almost 90 million people calling
the states of this region home;
The states that comprise the United States-Mexico border
region include many of the world’s most significant natural wonders and treasures and represent a collective economy
that ranks third in the world;
The United States-Mexico border region hosts some the world’s
premier academic and research institutions and is recognized as an international center for innovation and competitiveness;
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the La Paz
Agreement, we acknowledge the agreement as a solid framework for bi-national environmental cooperation in the United States-Mexico
border region, and reaffirm our commitment to honor and renew the principles of environmental protection in the border area
on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.
Current international political and social conditions have
magnified the United States-Mexico border region’s strategic role, uniting our states and compelling us to cooperate
more than ever to ensure greater security and efficiency and a stronger economy at the border;
Members of the Border Governors Conference have strengthened
their relationship with their respective federal governments, most recently through delegation visits to Washington, DC, and
Mexico City in order to address significant challenges and opportunities facing the United States-Mexico border region;
The XXVI Border Governors Conference will focus on building
green economies and explore opportunities for developing innovative, environmentally sound approaches that simultaneously
protect the environment and ensure long-term prosperity for the United States-Mexico border region; and
As part of our meeting in Hollywood, California, on the
August 13-15, 2008, having analyzed within the framework of the XXVI Border Governors Conference issues relating to Agriculture
and Livestock, Border Security, Economic Development, Education, Emergency and Civil Protection, Energy, Environment, Health,
Logistics and International Crossings, Science and Technology, Tourism, Water and Wildlife;
Now, therefore, we, the Border Governors who sign this
Joint Declaration, resolve to adopt the following important recommendations for the further enhancement and development of
the United States-Mexico border region:
Agriculture and
Livestock
Identify and evaluate possible threats to animal and plant
health that can have a significant negative emergency impact on the United States-Mexico border region, and to prepare cooperative
strategies to prevent entrance of exotic pests such as citrus greening disease.
Collect information from each state on the different programs
implemented within the United States-Mexico border region that improve childhood nutrition and agricultural awareness.
Expand dialogue with appropriate public health, resources
(fish and game, forestry) and environmental protection agencies at the state and federal levels to gather information, through
technical visits, on programs addressing invasive pests and plants and/or animal diseases along the United States-Mexico border
region.
Border Security
Ensure the development and implementation of the Declaration
of Cooperation related to Project Gunrunner/E-Trace within the United States-Mexico border region.
Explore the establishment of a standardized exchange of
information (Virtual Private Network) between each state regarding the reporting and tracking of criminal activity on both
sides of the border (auto theft, human trafficking, arrest warrants, missing or lost persons, illegal firearms and gangs).
This system should have the capacity of 24-hour availability.
Develop and publish a catalogue to expose first responders
in the United States-Mexico border region to training opportunities for emergency response to pandemic influenza or other
similar biohazard emergencies.
Implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual
aid response for emergencies between the states in the United States-Mexico border region. This MOU will establish the intent
of the appropriate authorities in the United States and Mexico to develop a formal interstate compact that provides for the
participation of states, counties and cities to provide mutual aid response during emergencies and natural disasters.
Economic Development
Create the Council of Economic Advisors that will meet
at least annually to advise the Border Governors Conference on spurring economic development and growth within the United
States-Mexico border region. This council will consider studies of competitiveness and areas of opportunity in the region.
The council will work collaboratively with a university in the United States and a university in Mexico to publish an annual
report reflecting its findings and recommendations.
Create and promote a centralized and functional Border
Governors Conference supplier database and input the data collected over this year from each state. This database, linked
to the Border Governors Conference website, will serve as a central point of access, creating a virtual marketplace linking
buyers and suppliers in order to create matchmaking opportunities and events for buyers to identify suppliers within the United
States-Mexico border region.
Amend the Border Governors Conference guidelines to include
the International Knowledge and Industrial Clusters Forum and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Institute/Supplier-Meets-The-Buyer
Conference as an annual Border Governors Conference-sponsored activity within the U.S.-Mexico Border region as well as associated
protocols.
Education
Identify, share and promote best practices in mathematics,
science and technology instruction and in engaging business support of education in the United States-Mexico border region.
Publish this information and distribute electronically
through the state departments of education, the Education Commission Worktable’s website and/or a data compact disc.
Support the acquisition of funds from the Mexican federal
government for the growth of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in elementary schools within the Mexican border states.
The United States border states will continue to support these efforts by sharing educational methods and training for teachers.
Each state will continue to enhance English language instruction for Hispanic students with limited English proficiency to
the extent permitted by law in each respective state.
Identify and implement strategies to support and assist
the reintegration of bi-national students into their appropriate educational levels.
Energy
Identify and promote a United States-Mexico border region
program for renewable energy by exchanging information on policies and financial incentives:
· Work with federal bi-national organizations, the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, the North
American Development Bank and international organizations to facilitate project development.
· Identify financial opportunities for at least one renewable energy project before the end of 2009.
Develop a best practices program for energy savings and
efficiency in the United States- Mexico border region communities:
· Work with Environment Worktable to identify those industrial commercial sectors in the border region
that would benefit from the introduction of energy saving technologies and practices.
· Identify financing from state, federal, bi-national and international sources to support this effort.
Exchange information on energy infrastructure:
· Annually update information on energy infrastructure (e.g. power plants, transmission lines, gas pipelines)
as part of the Border Governors Conference.
· Identify cooperative activities between energy authorities from Mexico and the United States.
Environment
Develop and introduce a legislative proposal or an appropriate
regulation in the United States border states to require tire distributors and collection centers to render unusable scrap/waste
tires to prevent them from being exported to Mexico. Request that Mexican federal authorities establish strict mechanisms
to avoid the illegal importation of scrap/waste tires mixed in with used tires to Mexico.
Execute the United States Environmental Protection Agency and SEMARNAT’s “Scrap Tire Integrated Management
Initiative” among the Environment Worktable representatives.
Acknowledging the important role of the Border Environment
Cooperation Commission (BECC) and North American Development Bank (NADBank) as financing tools to achieve adequate environmental
management, both for solid waste and wastewater treatment, through the Solid Waste Environmental Program and the Border Environmental
Infrastructure Program (BEIF), respectively, we request the boards of directors of both entities allocate permanent and increasing
budgets for these programs and, if possible, for the BEIF program for wastewater treatment to be applied as a grant for the
entire 300 kilometers in Mexico, as the BECC mandate stipulates.
Health
Request that the 10 border states be included in the implementation
of the recently signed “Declaration Among the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the United States of
America, the Department of Health of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Ministry of Health of the United
Mexican States.”
The health departments commit to developing cross-border
protocols for coordination and communication during epidemiological events of mutual interest under the provisions of the
Guidelines for United States-Mexico Coordination on Epidemiologic Events of Mutual Interest and be prepared to present them
at the 2009 United States-Mexico Border Governors Conference.
That the United States Department of Health and Human Services
approve and implement the Guidelines for United States-Mexico Coordination on Epidemiologic Events of Mutual Interest and
that they serve as the foundation for advancing bi-national coordination under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of
North America public health initiatives.
That the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission,
in coordination with the Pan American Health Organization United States-Mexico Border Field Office, develop a report that
addresses the bi-national problem related to the increase in the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases along the border, including
drug resistant TB, and identifies means to increase financial resources for TB control activities in the United States-Mexico
border region, specifically in Mexico to improve laboratory and surveillance capacity and to the northern border states to
offset the cost of providing TB care to non-residents of the border states, and specifically in to the United States to provide
increased funding for the border state and county health departments to offset the cost of providing TB care to non-United
States citizens and management of bi-national TB cases in coordination with Mexican State health authorities.
Support and strengthen the initiative for the creation
of the Unit for Epidemiological Intelligence and Public Health Emergencies as a center that monitors risks and damages to
public health for an early-stage bi-national alert, which would initially operate in the Mexican border states and, subsequently,
based on agreements and the definition of protocols, would include epidemiological monitoring activities in the 10 United
States-Mexico border states, and support and strengthen the development and implementation of the initiative to use Tele-Health
technology as a tool that has great potential for standardizing capacity in health services and available human resources,
as well as those in training, in the United States-Mexico border states.
Request that the federal governments of both countries
provide funding to launch a culturally and linguistically appropriate year-long binational multimedia education and awareness
campaign during the Border Bi-National Health Week (BBHW) aimed especially at children and youth.
Request that the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission
report on efforts made to address the issues at the 2010 Border Governors Conference.
Logistics and International
Crossings
Immediately reduce cross-border wait times at land Ports
of Entry (POE) between United States and Mexico. Support the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) efforts to obtain funding
for additional border crossing inspectors and Mexico’s National Institute of Migration and Customs’ use of available
funding to fill inspector vacancies at land POEs. These agencies should take into consideration present and projected POE
staffing shortages under current and expanded hours of operation, peak hours, future double-stacked inspection booths and
additional POE projects currently under both federal governments’ approving processes.
Substantially reduce cross border wait times by 2013 and
complete bi-national state to state regional border master plans amongst the 10 border states within three years. Request
that both federal governments to incorporate these plans into a U.S.-Mexico Border Master Plan by the XXXI Border Governors
Conference in 2013.
The Border Master Plan objectives are to:
· Increase the understanding of Ports of Entry and transportation planning on both sides of the border.
· Prioritize and advance mid- and long-term transportation projects for POE and related transportation
projects.
· Establish a process to institutionalize dialogue among local, state and federal stakeholders in the
United States and Mexico to identify and prioritize future POE’s and connecting transportation projects.
Support border state requests for presidential permits
for international crossings that utilize alternative financing mechanisms to minimize cross border wait times. Use these mechanisms
as demonstration projects as appropriate.
Increase the number of informational signs regarding the
prohibition of entering Mexico with weapons and ammunition.
Science and Technology
Designate an academic institution(s) as the source of information
on science, technology and innovation in the border region to jointly create a network of border institution(s) that can partner
and share resources amongst each other.
Promote and brand the border region as the knowledge corridor
of science, technology and innovation. In order to accomplish this, conferences, seminars and human capital development programs
will be sponsored annually in the region.
Tourism
Exchange best practices to develop and promote bi-national
tourism activities and strengthen collaborative projects between neighboring states in the United States-Mexico border region.
Identify and inventory niche travel products in neighboring states and provide guidance to the United States- Mexico border
cities and region for development of these tours.
Establish a formal partnership with our respective federal
governments to make crossborder travel more efficient through infrastructure improvements and educate the traveling public
on rules affecting cross border travel. In addition, jointly develop a process to obtain cross-border traveler data to enhance
tourism in the United States-Mexico border region.
Work with the appropriate state and federal entities in
order to improve the urban image and signage of Ports of Entry in the United States-Mexico border region.
Water
Organize and convene bi-national science conference on
drought in 2009, to include the consideration of factors such as climate variability and change, and share information on
present and future water supply needs.
Urge the federal governments of both countries to improve
the infrastructure of the hydrometric and climatological monitoring network in the United States-Mexico border region.
Pursue greater engagement with the federal governments
of both countries in reviewing requests for financial assistance and seek joint state-federal decision-making processes regarding
how water infrastructure projects are funded in the United States-Mexico border region.
Wildlife
Develop the “Successful Actions of Bi-National Wildlife
Collaborations Along the United States-Mexico Border Region” document.
This document is based upon the “List of Priority
and Invasive Species of the United States-Mexico Border Region” published in 2008.
Promote a calendar of activities and events that strengthens
communication, coordination, information exchange, capacity building and standardization of wildlife techniques.
Review and monitor the “Borderland Conservation and
Security Act” (H.R. 2593) within the legislative process of the United States Congress.
Addenda
50th Anniversary
of the Arizona-Mexico Commission/Sonora-Arizona Commission
The Border Governors Conference (BGC) recognizes the efforts
and success of the Arizona-Mexico Commission/Sonora-Arizona Commission (AMC/CSA). In 2009, The AMC/CSA will celebrate 50 years
of success. The BGC commends this binational partnership between the AMC/CSA and recognizes their leadership as a vehicle
for change on the entire United States-Mexico Border Region.
Energy
The role of alternative energy and clean fuel sources is
increasing in the United State-Mexico border region. Under these conditions governments are obligated to assume leadership
toward positive energy conversion, both in generation and consumption. Crossborder cooperation is essential in this matter,
and the Border Governors Conference has the capacity to assume leadership in this area, not only for the region we share,
but for both our countries.
Develop a Border Energy Efficiency Policy based on social,
economic, market and environmental sustainability.
Explore formal binational cooperation through the creation
of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote the development and use of clean technology, renewable energy, and the development
of cross-border energy infrastructure. This MOU should also promote the use of conservation strategies.
Develop cross-border studies that determine the value and
appropriate use of renewable energy resources in the United States-Mexico border region.
Human Trafficking
Commit to include Human Trafficking (HT) in the agenda
for the XXVII Border Governors Conference (BGC) and encourage relevant work tables to address this issue by developing “best
practice” strategies and actions to ameliorate human trafficking. Best practice strategies should potentially include,
but not be
limited to:
· defining the crime of HT;
· decriminalizing HT victims;
· ensuring that immigration status does not interfere with enforcement of anti-trafficking laws or the
provision of basic human aid to victims;
· defining penalties for traffickers;
· confiscating ill-gotten financial gains by traffickers in order to enhance victims compensation programs;
· criminalizing the deduction of illegal immigration costs from HT victim earnings;
· protecting sexually exploited minors;
· examining whether trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation should be treated as a sex crime;
and
· educating health providers and law enforcement personnel to more readily identify victims.
We further pronounce our commitment to expand the program
objectives to protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children that were agreed to at the XXV BGC.
25th Anniversary
of the La Paz Agreement
The XXVI Border Governors Conference (BGC) Plenary pronounces
its commitment to the continued adherence to the articles of the agreement between the United States of America and the United
Mexican States on cooperation for the protection and improvement of the environment in the border, more commonly known as
the La Paz Agreement. Specifically, the BGC will demonstrate leadership in the promotion and expansion of the visibility and
utilization of the La Paz Agreement by directing the Worktables of the BGC to overlay the principles contained within the
Articles of the La Paz Agreement onto the actions or strategies the Worktables develop when accomplishing their work.
Combating Social Marginalization along the Border
The Mexican border states recognize that the Mexican Federal
Government has committed to allocate resources to marginalized border population communities. We urge the federal governments
of the United States and Mexico to allocate funding to combat social marginalization in the 80 border municipalities as an
instrument to provide a better quality of life and welfare to border communities.
The United States-Mexico border region states will use
these funds to combat illiteracy, housing that lacks sewage systems, population that lacks complete elementary school studies,
housing that lacks piped water, housing that lacks electric power, dirt floor housing and unpaved roads.
Arms and Human Trafficking
The 10 Governors of the United States–Mexico border
region have identified trans-border trafficking of arms and human as a dangerous and reprehensible phenomenon, the combat
of which must be given the highest priority. Therefore, we are highly appreciative of the position that U.S. President George
W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon have taken on this issue. The Border Governors are willing and able, to provide
their respective Federal Governments all the appropriate support that may be requested from them to combat these types of
trafficking activities.
Strategic Master Plan for Competitive and Sustainable Development
of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region
Create a Strategic Master Plan for Competitive and Sustainable
Development of the United States–Mexico Border Region, which should be developed and presented at the XXVII Border Governors
Conference for approval.
This plan should be organized into medium and long term
work plans.
The Governors Representatives will develop a Strategic
Master Plan work group that will engage all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector and academic institutions,
in the development of the plan.
The development of the Strategic Master Plan builds upon
the efforts made at the XXV and XXVI Border Governors Conference related to, competitiveness, sustainability and building
green economies.
Immediate Action Plan for Competitiveness, Security and
Welfare of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region
Upon facing the challenges of globalization and the effects
of the deceleration of the world’s economy in our region, the Border Governors Conference (BGC) renews its commitment
to intensify and accelerate coordinated actions regarding competitiveness as a way to increase the flows of private and public
investment for the generation of jobs and the creation of infrastructure for development, within a secure environment and
with a higher quality of life for the people.
Therefore, the Governors request the support of the members
of the Economic Development Advising Council to, in coordination with the chairs for Economic Development, Logistics and International
Crossings, Border Security, Tourism and the Environment Worktables, as well as other international organizations such as the
North American Development Bank (NADBank) and the Inter-American
Development Bank (IADB), among others, to present, before
year’s end, to the Conference President, a document titled “Diagnosis and Recommendations for the Instrumentation
of an Immediate Action Plan for Competitiveness, Security and Welfare of the United States-Mexico Border Region,” with
specific proposals for the following essential issues.
a) Financing. Finalize the creation of the Competitiveness
and Border Infrastructure Regional Fund, according to the terms approved during the XXV BGC, as a way to finance priority
projects already identified in the Competitiveness, Opportunity Areas and Successful Cases at the Border Region Forum, and
the study derived from it.
b) Information. Consolidate the second phase of the United
States-Mexico Border Statistical and Geographical Information System, as a way to measure regional competitiveness.
c) Coordination. Implementation of efficient inter-institutional
communication mechanisms with federal, state and municipal authorities, to widen and/or modernize ports of entry under the
common purpose of building a safe and secure border, but also making it more humane.
We must reconcile the need to speed up the legal movements
of people and goods at ports of entry, preserving at the same time the control and security of our borders, facing the issues
of illegal drug trafficking, people and guns, with the utmost respect for the law.
d) Liaison. Promote the creation of a high level specialist
network that participates with novel and convenient solutions for all in facing the following challenges and opportunities
posed by globalization and its impact on the region’s competitiveness: economic deceleration, food crises, high energy
costs, environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources.
All of the above shall follow the elaboration process outlined
in the Strategic Master Plan for Competitive and Sustainable Development of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region, which will be presented
at the XXVII BGC.
Southbound Border Inspections
Increase southbound inspection resources at all United
States-Mexico international bridges and border crossings, and establish procedures to share information concerning contraband
seizures at the ports of entry on a real time basis to increase the effectiveness of inspections. Consider using all appropriate
resources to achieve this goal.
Legal Disclaimer
The parties acknowledge that this Joint Declaration is
not intended to create any legally binding rights or obligations, and will not be enforceable in any court of law in the United
States of America or the United Mexican States. The parties commit themselves in good will to implement this Joint Declaration
to the fullest extent practicable, subject to their own legal and budgetary constraints, and subject to any changes in policy
that they may adopt.
For the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
_________________________
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Chair
Governor, State of California
_________________________
JANET NAPOLITANO
Governor, State of Arizona
_________________________
BILL RICHARDSON
Governor, State of New Mexico
_________________________
RICK PERRY
Governor, State of Texas
Por los
ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS
_________________________
JOSÉ NATIVIDAD GONZÁLEZ PARÁS
Co-Presidente
Gobernador, Estado de Nuevo
León
_________________________
JOSÉ GUADALUPE OSUNA MILLÁN
Gobernador, Estado de Baja California
_________________________
JOSÉ REYES BAEZA TERRAZAS
Gobernador, Estado de Chihuahua
_________________________
HUMBERTO MOREIRA VALDÉS
Gobernador, Estado de Coahuila
_________________________
EDUARDO BOURS CASTELO
Gobernador, Estado de Sonora
_________________________
EUGENIO HERNÁNDEZ FLORES
Gobernador, Estado de Tamaulipas
