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U.S. Latino and Environmental Policy Centers Issue Proposal for Reform of NAFTA Infrastructure Institutions
The Texas Center for Policy Studies, the North American Integration and Development Center and the William C. Velasquez Institute have joined forces in releasing a public interest proposal for fundamental reform of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and North American Development Bank (NADBank). The release of the policy options paper is timed to contibute to discussion about the future of these two important institutions, which were formed in legislation parallel to NAFTA. In September, Presidents Bush and Fox are likely to discuss reform of the two institutions during their meetings in Washington, D.C.
"We believe that this proposal presents a workable, common ground position that would guarantee continued development of sustainable potable water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management to border residents, while opening up development opportunities within Mexico, particularly in regions of Mexico where economic opportunity is scarce," said TCPS executive director Mary Kelly.
The U.S. and Mexican governments have yet to publically issue detailed reform proposals. In light of this, the options paper recommends:
- (1) dedicating a certain portion of NADBank funds to low interest loans for border environmental projects certified by BECC;
- (2) improving the certification process itself;
- (3) allowing other NADBank capital to be used for non-environmental infrastructure projects in and outside the border zone, with guarantees for transparency and accountability in the use of these public funds; and
- (4) establishing a program within NADBank to levarage transnational remittances for community development projects in those regions of Mexico where economic opportunity is so scarce that people are foced to migrate in search of work.
Finding Common Ground: A Public Interest Proposal for BECC/NADBANK Reform ( MS Word format)
En Busca de Intereses Comunes: Una Propuesta de Interés Público Para la Comisión de Cooperación Ecológica Fronteriza y el Banco de Desarrollo de América del Norte (COCEF/BDAN) ( MS Word format)
For More Information
Mary Kelly or Cyrus Reed
TCPS
44 East Avenue Suite 306
Austin, TX 78701
512.474.0811 phone
512.474.7846 fax
cr@texascenter.org
mek@texascenter.org
Dr. Raúl Hinojosa-Ojeda
North American Integration and Development Center
School of Public Policy and Social Research
University of California
3250 Public Policy Building, Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095
hinojosa@ucla.edu
(310)206-4609 phone
(310) 825-8574 fax
http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu
Rebecca Valdez
William C. Velasquez Institute
rvaldez@wcvi.org
2914 N. Main Street, 1st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 222-2217 phone
(323) 222-2011 fax
http://www.wcvi.org
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