BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SJR 16
                                                                  Page  1


          SENATE THIRD READING
          SJR 16 (Vargas)
          As Introduced  February 9, 2012
          Majority vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :36-0  
           
           RULES               6-0                                         
           
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          |Ayes:|Skinner, Brownley,        |     |                          |
          |     |Carter, Eng, Feuer,       |     |                          |
          |     |Furutani                  |     |                          |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
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           SUMMARY  :  Urges the United States Congress to enact guiding 
          legislation to authorize public-private partnerships for 
          projects such as the proposed expansion of the Calexico West 
          Port Entry.  Specifically,  this resolution  makes the following 
          legislative findings: 

          1)The Calexico Border Station in Calexico, California, a 
            pedestrian and vehicle inspection facility constructed in 
            1974, is the third busiest non-commercial land port in the 
            United States.  Approximately 16,000 privately-owned vehicles 
            and 20,000 pedestrians enter the United States through the 
            Calexico facility daily. 

          2)Federal agencies have considered the need to modernize the 
            Calexico Port of Entry, having evaluated and planned to move 
            portions of the border entry process approximately three 
            blocks west and expand its operation for pedestrians, 
            automobiles, and to a lesser extent, some commercial vehicles. 


          3)Since 2005, millions of dollars have been spent planning 
            improvements, but due to fiscal constraints the project may be 
            delayed.

          4)The delay in construction creates national security issues, 
            and long wait times pose health problems for travelers exiting 
            and entering the United States.  The delay also exacerbates 
            environmental and economic inefficiencies that are estimated 
            to cost in excess of half a billion dollars per year. 








                                                                  SJR 16
                                                                  Page  2



           FISCAL EFFECT  :  None

           COMMENTS  :  According to the author, discussions are currently 
          underway to formulate a proposal with private parties to 
          finance, construct, and lease the proposed expansion.  The 
          author notes, however, that these proposals are contingent upon 
          Congress providing guiding legislation to implement the plan.  
          This resolution urges Congress to take action that would enable 
          this important port of entry to utilize private funding to 
          construct the proposed expansion.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Mukhtar Ali / RLS. / (916) 319-2800


                                                                FN: 0005872