The Border

Governor Perry has made health, growth and opportunity along the border of Texas a top priority. When he first took the oath of office in December, 2000, Governor Perry advocated the creation of a colonia road building program to improve conditions for some of our poorest neighbors, and spoke about the importance of a more prosperous border region, saying, "the border of Texas is not the back yard, but the front door to our state and our nation. It is a dynamic place enriched by a wonderful people. Its progress…its prosperity…will benefit the whole of Texas."

In 2001, voters approved a colonia road building project at the ballot box. In recent years, the governor has worked to improve access to healthcare in regions hit hard by soaring malpractice rates, including the border region of Texas. Once again voters responded, approving medical liability reforms in 2003 that are now returning specialists to medically underserved regions. The governor is also working with El Paso legislators to fully fund the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso.

With a seat at the table of negotiations between federal officials and their Mexican counterparts, Governor Perry helped resolve the long-running water treaty dispute to the benefit of Rio Grande Valley farmers. Waters from outside the basins covered in the treaty have been transferred to Texas: an idea first mentioned by Governor Perry to Mexican president Vicente Fox in 2003.

Governor Perry has also taken a firm stand advocating parity in how federal officials treat Mexican visitors compared to Canadian visitors. In 2004, federal officials agreed to extend visit times for Mexicans with laser visas from three days to 30 days. The governor continues to advocate for full parity, while supporting efforts to ensure our border is secure.

Texas is now the leading exporting state, sending more than $100 billion in goods and services around the world. Our leading trade partner is Mexico, and the border region is a major beneficiary of this special trade relationship. Governor Perry is firmly committed to ensuring commerce and commuters can freely cross our border in a timely manner. He supports the use of high-tech inspection stations as well as high-tech verification tools that ensure we know the identity of all who enter our country.

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