REFERENCE TITLE: Douglas; port of entry expansion

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCM 1017

Introduced by Senator Griffin

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

urging the united states congress to provide funding to expand the port of entry at douglas, arizona.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, southeastern Arizona, including the City of Douglas, plays a vitally important role in our national security; and

Whereas, the Douglas port of entry is critical to America's national security, border security, immigration enforcement, infrastructure and facilitation of legitimate trade; and

Whereas, the existing land port of entry in Douglas is severely lacking in several respects, and expansion, modernization and sufficient road and infrastructure are needed to alleviate congestion and accommodate projected increases in United States – Mexico trade; and

Whereas, a commercial land port of entry in Douglas would address problems the current port faces with respect to physical space, logistic requirements and traffic patterns needed to efficiently and safely process people and materials at the border; and

Whereas, these issues result in restricted access to local and regional businesses, weaken the collaborative relationship needed for a small town to function properly and prevent Customs and Border Protection from fully accomplishing its mission; and

Whereas, failure to equip the Douglas port of entry with the proper resources results in threats to our nation in terms of drug trafficking, human trafficking, counterfeit manufactured goods and pharmaceuticals, diseases and terrorists; and

Whereas, a new commercial land port of entry in Douglas would minimize these threats and increase border security. Additional benefits of expanded port operations would include a public-private partnership in developing surrounding infrastructure, the sharing of operations information between agencies and local law enforcement, the commercial development of nearby land and the improvement in United States-Mexico international relations.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1.  That the United States Congress take immediate steps to provide funding for the expansion of the port of entry in Douglas, Arizona.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.