Securing Our Border Economy
I would like to congratulate the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber on celebrating 25 years of service and leadership. The Chamber continues to play an integral role in supporting existing small businesses, while fostering new business development.
Many businesses in southern New Mexico depend on the region’s proximity to Mexico, one of our nation’s largest trading partners.
The U.S.-Mexico trade relationship is vitally important to our state’s economy. As the ranking member on the Joint Economic Committee, I will be reviewing the impacts and benefits of the United States’ trade partnership with Mexico on our economy. I will be issuing a new report in the coming weeks.
Significant federal and private investments in our border communities helped New Mexico’s international exports grow by leaps and bounds over the last decade. Increased bilateral trade with Mexico has benefitted our state tremendously as demonstrated by the creation of more than 8,000 new jobs between 2009 and 2014. In fact, we are one of the fastest-growing states in the country for jobs related to international exports.
I have been proud to work alongside business and community leaders to secure major public-private partnerships and millions of dollars in federal investment to facilitate lawful international trade at our ports of entry.
In recent years, major developments in the Santa Teresa industrial corridor—including the Union Pacific Railroad’s Intermodal Terminal and expansion of the commercial hours of operation and capacity at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry—have made southern New Mexico an increasingly attractive location to multinational companies.
Business owners and workers who depend on trade and understand the benefits of growing exports for our state’s economy are understandably nervous about the ramifications of the White House potentially souring our nation’s relationship with Mexico. Building a wall and making hardworking American families foot the bill through tariffs or trade wars is simply not a viable policy that reflects the security needs of our border communities or our economy.
Instead of relying on rhetoric, we should take pragmatic steps to build on our success in creating jobs and attracting new businesses to southern New Mexico. I will continue fighting for common-sense policies that keep our nation safe and secure and ensure our border communities in New Mexico prosper from their unique bi-national culture and economy.
I encourage you to share your ideas of how we can promote our growing export driven economy in southern New Mexico.
Please contact my Las Cruces office any time at (575) 523-6561 or visit my website www.
Heinrich.Senate.gov if I can be of assistance to you and your family.
