Congressmen Obey, Rodriguez urge peers to see border first-hand
By Bill Sontag
Feature Writer
U.S. Rep. David Obey (D-7th District, Wis.) and U.S. Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-23rd District, Texas) wrapped up a demanding tour of the U.S.-Mexico border in southwest Texas, Saturday (March 8). A warm, sunny afternoon and a roundtable conversation beneath the pavilion at the Whitehead Memorial Museum gave local officials and civic leaders a chance to share their concerns with the two congressional leaders.
Obey, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, had some eye-opening experiences during this, his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. The Wisconsin native is well familiar with the U.S.-Canada border, characterizing it as much longer and much less complicated. “Really, there’s nothing similar between them,” Obey told LIVE!
The “take-away message” for Obey included a personal understanding of both the vastness of the terrain and the absolute necessity for lawmakers to see it first-hand. Referring to peers and public officials in Washington D.C., Obey chided, “They ought to have the common sense to come see this for themselves.” That was precisely what Rodriguez had in mind for Obey when he urged him to ride along on a tour of border hotspots.
“I simply came here to understand what the local situation is, and I’ll take it back to Washington, think about it, and talk with other members of Congress who are involved in similar situations. Right now, the main issue – the way Congress is dealing with this main issue is the fence – and they’ve declined to deal in a real way with immigration,” Obey asserted.
Obey explained that his visit was fundamentally a “show-me” trip, a windshield tour augmented with specific site visits. “We went out on the river, we were down in Eagle Pass, we visited people in San Antonio, and now, we’re here.” He explained that the purpose of the trip was not to try to find solutions for nettlesome border problems, but to gain a better understanding of what they are and the context of land and culture in which the issues arise. Possibilities, for example, of problem solving through international diplomacy: “Oh, we haven’t gotten into that. They were just trying to show me the physical reality of the situation, and to listen to some of the community leaders who have misgivings about the fence.”
Obey was stunned by the extent of the growth and importance of river cane – carrizo or arundo donax – along the riparian corridor of the Rio Grande. “We certainly have discussed what the environmental impact would be from the removal of the cane through various methods, but I’m just beginning to learn about that. I just learned about the extensive nature [of the cane]. I had no idea, I didn’t know of the existence of the cane, I didn’t know of the extent, the thousands and thousands of acres. It’s a massive undertaking to try to take it out,” exclaimed Obey.
After the press briefing, Del Rio Mayor Efrain Valdez told LIVE! that he used his time with the congressional leaders to urge Obey’s support for a simpler border-crossing system for U.S. citizens to re-enter the country. Valdez said he suggested that widespread authorization of an imbedded ID “chip” in drivers’ licenses would expedite travel and reduce costs to governments and users. “We told him it’s working in Vermont, it’s worked in Arizona, and if we implemented it, it would save the federal government, and it would save us all more money because we wouldn’t have to issue the new pass cards,” Valdez said.
Regarding landowner issues along the river corridor, Valdez stated, “I said, ‘Thanks a lot for listening to us, and any time you need to consider a fence, thank you for listening to what works in this area.’”
Attorney and real estate investor Pat Ellis was also a participant in the roundtable discussions with Obey and Rodriguez, Saturday, saying the group discussed “The possibility of attracting new things to Laughlin [Air Force Base]. Yes, new missions and, rather than concentrate just on BRAC – the negative side – that’s part of what the new Laughlin Task Force is aiming at, to be proactive to see if there are some other missions and things that we could bring.”
Asked about obstacles to pushing ahead for new and greater responsibilities at Laughlin, Ellis said, “Well, I think the main thrust was that it’s going to be a tough year appropriations-wise, period, because it’s an election year.” But, understanding that, Ellis believes there may be opportunities, nonetheless.
“We were also concentrating on the National Park Service, and the need to update their construction of facilities, to take advantage of the 1.7 million visitors that we’ve got now. And try to help get some appropriations for the Park Service to be able to capitalize on that,” said Ellis. “Man, there’s all kinds of road issues, and other development issues for other programs [such as] equine trails, hiking trails, facilities that could make the lake more accessible for people without boats such as fishing piers. And all those things are identified in the park’s new [general] management plan.”
Ellis believes Amistad National Recreation Area needs more and better visibility, including development of a new visitor center. “Yeah, a visitor center, a museum – for the million or so artifacts that are just sitting in boxes over at the University of Texas – I know we discussed those matters with Congressman Rodriguez this past summer."
Ellis said Rodriguez is aware of those needs, and the demands of all the projects discussed with Obey. “Now, if we can just get the money!”
As Obey said goodbye to his hosts, he said, “Thanks for your hospitality … and thanks for sending Ciro to Washington!”
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