We must work cooperatively if we are to realistically address the problems that impact the people on both sides of the border.

I am hopeful that after you have this field hearing, we can work together to find ways to help Mexico and President Calderon even more than we are currently with the Merida Initiative.

The Speaker also wanted to send a very public message that President Calderon has a tremendous amount of support from the U.S. Congress.

I appreciate the opportunity to come before you today, and talk about projects in my district of El Paso, Texas.

We need more money for border infrastructure, not less. The $140 million that Congress authorized is insufficient to meet the needs along our borders, much less to meet the needs of corridors throughout this Nation.

Today I am asking this committee to appropriate $10 million for preliminary engineering and environmental studies for an elevated, automated people mover system, connecting these two downtowns; downtown in El Paso and the downtown in…