Texas Congressmen Fight to Keep Southern Border Open for Business
Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON— Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Filemon Vela (TX-34) and Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), and Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) have introduced H. Res. 287, a resolution condemning President Trump’s recent threat to shut down the United States-Mexico border. Any potential closure of the border would cause extensive economic harm to U.S. markets and sever the bilateral trade relationship between the two countries.
“Threats to close the U.S.-Mexico Border have already resulted in delays, chaos, and uncertainty,” Congressman Gonzalez said. “Following through with such a plan would have far-reaching consequences beyond South Texas and cause irrevocable economic damage across the country. Today, I stand with Representatives Cuellar, Escobar, Vela, Jackson Lee, and Fletcher to call on our colleagues to join us in sending this message to the Administration: our communities will no longer bear the brunt of brash, misguided policy decisions.”
Congressman Henry Cuellar said, “Shutting down the border would have disastrous consequences for both the U.S. and Mexico. Every day, $1.5 billion worth of cargo moves across our ports of entry to and from our southern neighbor. My district is home to the largest inland port in the United States, conducting over 60 percent of all U.S.-Mexico trade. Closing the entire border would not only severely disrupt the flow of goods but also hamper tourism and create economic chaos for both economies.”
He continued, “I thank Texas Congressmembers Vela, Gonzalez, Jackson Lee, Escobar, Garcia, and Fletcher for joining me in support of this resolution. We are ready to fight any executive action that stands to harm our economy and trade relations.”
“It’s another moronic idea from the White House,” said Congressman Vela. “Closing off the border will only hurt our country and the millions of people whose jobs depend on trade. In 2018, $265 billion in US goods were exported to Mexico. Closing off trade markets for American industry and producers is bad for America.”
Full text of the resolution can be found here.
Link to U.S.-Mexico Fact Sheet can be found here.
