Bob Filner: “I represent part of the city of San Diego. I represent the district which has much of the California-Mexico border. The…”

“I represent part of the city of San Diego. I represent the district which has much of the California-Mexico border. The attention that this Nation should pay to building up that infrastructure for our economic future has not been done. Federal mandates that deal with trade and immigration have placed a tremendous strain on our roads and bridges and highways and rail lines that simply cannot accommodate the increased traffic that results from Federal decisions in trade and in immigration. It is critical, Mr. Chairman, that we find the Federal funding for these highway and rail projects without affecting California's Federal highway assistance. I have introduced legislation along with Senator Boxer in the other body to establish a $500 million border infrastructure fund to pay for these improvements to try to make sure that we realize the potential of the international trade that the passage of NAFTA and other actions have caused.”