On the recordAugust 3, 1998
recently, raging fires engulfed over 1 million acres of land in Mexico. Our border states, in particular Texas, were overwhelmed by a pall of smoke that created an acute pollution problem and raised serious health concerns. The Administration deployed emergency assistance to help Mexico cope with the fires. I would like to thank my colleague on the International Relations Committee, Mr. Brady, for working with the honorable gentleman from Texas, Mr. Hall, to offer an amendment--which was unanimously approved in Committee--updating this resolution. In the aftermath of these terrible fires, it is important for the House to endorse this resolution's call for the negotiation with Mexico of a Cooperative Fire Suppression Agreement similar to the one that exists between the United States and Canada. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 469 as amended.
Source
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