The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“INTEGRATING THE GULF OF MEXICO BORDER REGION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2527-E2528 on Dec. 9, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTEGRATING THE GULF OF MEXICO BORDER REGION
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HON. KATHERINE HARRIS
of florida
in the house of representatives
Monday, December 8, 2003
Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that on November 5, 2003, the Gulf of Mexico States Accord and its business counterpart, the Gulf of Mexico States Partnership, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Short Sea Shipping with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration. The Gulf of Mexico States Accord comprises a partnership between my home state of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and the six Mexican states that border the Gulf of Mexico.
The signing ceremony for this Memorandum of Cooperation took place at the MARAD Short Sea Shipping Conference, which occurred in Sarasota, Florida, a city which is located in my District. Over 200 maritime industry professionals from the United States, Mexico, Canada and the European Union attended this event. In recognition of the outstanding work of the Maritime Administration, the Accord and the Partnership, I request that the English version of the agreement be inserted, with my comments, into the Record.
The Memorandum of Cooperation, which constitutes the first such agreement in the Gulf of Mexico region, calls for information exchange, technical assistance and collaboration on issues related to the development of short sea shipping in the Gulf of Mexico. It represents a significant step toward full U.S.-Mexico collaboration on this vital trade issue.
The adoption of an enhanced regional emphasis on the Gulf of Mexico border states is vital as the NAFTA enters its second decade. The initiatives set forth in the Memorandum of Cooperation will leverage resources to develop this ``water border,'' bolstering homeland security, spurring trade expansion, relieving transportation bottlenecks, and reducing pollution through the increased utilization of the Gulf of Mexico's ports and intermodal infrastructure.
The Memorandum of Cooperation also calls for support of the ``Gulf of Mexico Trade Corridor Transportation Study'', which is being spearheaded by the business Partnership in collaboration with the Accord and its Working Group on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communications. The study is based on the premise that the development of the Gulf of Mexico border, with its 62 million inhabitants in eleven U.S. and Mexican states, will have immediate and enduring regional impact on efficient investment in homeland security, identification of and investment in ``critical'' physical infrastructure, tourism and educational development, environmental sustainability, and overall community and international economic development.
The Gulf of Mexico basin constitutes a natural North American economic sub-region, comprising a seaborne NAFTA ``superhighway'' trade corridor, a common sustainable resource for tourism, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and a common homeland security zone. The Gulf represents the ideal location for deepening and broadening the benefits of the NAFTA in preparation for the new flows of two-way trade that I believe will occur under the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
Memorandum of Cooperation Among the Maritime Administration of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico States Accord, and the Gulf of Mexico
States Partnership, Inc.
1. PARTIES
a. The party to this agreement representing the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is the Maritime Administrator or his designated representative.
b. The party to this agreement representing the Gulf of Mexico States Accord (GOMSA) will be the President of the Accord or his designated representative. GOMSA is a forum that was created to foster, promote and implement cooperative relationships between and for the eleven U.S. and Mexican border states that adjoin the Gulf of Mexico.
c. The party to this agreement representing the Gulf of Mexico States Partnership, Inc. (the Partnership) will be the President of the organization or his designated representative. The Partnership is a non-profit private sector Gulf States group that shares the GOMSA goal of fostering and promoting interests of the member states and region.
2. PURPOSE
a. The purpose of this agreement is to recognize and enhance the communications and working relationship among MARAD, GOMSA, and the Partnership in order to address the common goals of advancing short sea shipping in the Gulf of Mexico and ensure that it is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sound.
b. The agreement serves to facilitate periodic meetings among MARAD, GOMSA and the Partnership to identify ways the respective organizations can assist in the sharing of short sea shipping policy, experience and related information.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
a. MARAD will share with GOMSA and Partnership MARAD's short sea shipping
i. goals, policies, and experience so as to allow these organizations to use their extensive
ii. state and business networks to improve maritime efficiency, commercial viability, and
iii. short sea shipping opportunities as they arise.
b. GOMSA and the Partnership will share information and experience with MARAD so that they can assist in the accomplishment of MARAD objectives to ease traffic congestion, improve transportation safety, and elevate the quality of life in the Gulf States region through cooperative short sea shipping efforts.
c. MARAD, GOMSA and the Partnership will consult and share information in support of a ``Gulf of Mexico Trade Corridor Transportation Study'', a long-range Partnership project to highlight new commercial opportunities, inventory Gulf of Mexico infrastructure assets, and to identify and assess gaps in existing transportation infrastructure.
d. This agreement is effective upon the signature of the parties. It is informal in nature and may be modified by mutual agreement or terminated by any party at any time. The parties pledge to act in good faith at all times and to use their best efforts to accomplish the purposes summarized herein. This partnership does not obligate MARAD to expend any funds.
Signed the 5th day of November 2003 in triplicate, in Sarasota, Florida in the English and Spanish languages, each version being equally valid.
[Capt. William Schubert, Administrator, for the U.S. Maritime Administration] [Gary L. Springer, Secretary-General, Gulf of Mexico States Accord] [Robert Hendry, Director, Gulf of Mexico States Partnership, Inc.]
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