RON PAUL Uses North American Leaders’ Summit To Announce Stronger Opposition to NAFTA “Super Highway”

http://theithacan.org/blogs/thespectrum/files/2007/10/ron-paul-iowa.jpghttp://www.mmlv.us/images/CartoonSuperHwy.jpg
FORT BEND NOW

Even as leaders from the United States, Canada and Mexico opened their Security and Prosperity Partnership summit in New Orleans yesterday, local congressman Ron Paul (R-Lake Jackson) vowed to continue his fight against expanding the free trade alliance between the three countries and the Trans-Texas Corridor and NAFTA “Super Highway.”

President George W. Bush, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper began a two-day North American Leaders’ Summit in New Orleans yesterday. The meeting involves discussions among the three leaders on border security, as well as trade relations between the nations touted as having a $1 trillion economic impact.

Paul, whose district includes part of Fort Bend County, used the opportunity to re-state his opposition to plans to build a NAFTA “Super Highway” to link the three nations. The controversial Trans-Texas Corridor is expected to be a major link in that highway.

Paul noted that he was as a co-sponsor of a resolution opposing the project.

“As we all know, there have been significant moves recently to expand the Security and Prosperity Partnership initiated by President Bush and his Mexican and Canadian counterparts in 2005. One such plan is to construct a so-called “NAFTA Superhighway” running from Mexico, through Texas, and up eventually into Canada,” Paul said. “I have opposed this project from the beginning, signing on as a co-sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 40 expressing Congressional disapproval of the NAFTA Superhighway and any moves toward a North American Union.”

Paul went on to say that he has introduced additional legislation aimed at prohibiting the use of federal funds for the highway.

“More recently, I introduced an even stronger piece of legislation, H.R.5191, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to carry out this highway project. The federal government has no business being partner to this outrageous plan, according to which countless landowners would have their private property confiscated under eminent domain,” Paul said. “This prohibition of funds, if passed, would go a long way toward derailing this ill-conceived project and would send a clear message that further attempts to undermine U.S. sovereignty would not be unchallenged in Congress. It is long past time the United States House and Senate start taking our constitutional oversight roles seriously.”

In meetings throughout the state, including Fort Bend and surrounding counties, Texas Department of Transportation officials have seen vocal opposition to the Trans-Texas Corridor plan. Relatively few speakers voiced any degree of support for the plan.

Extensive interest in the proposal led TxDOT to extend the period of public comment. The comment period was initially slated to close March 19, but a 30-day extension allowed for additional comment through last Friday.



To prohibit the use of Federal funds to carry out the highway project known as the `Trans-Texas Corridor'. (Introduced in House)

HR 5191 IH


110th CONGRESS


2d Session

H. R. 5191

To prohibit the use of Federal funds to carry out the highway project known as the `Trans-Texas Corridor'.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 29, 2008

Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure


A BILL


To prohibit the use of Federal funds to carry out the highway project known as the `Trans-Texas Corridor'.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR PROJECT.
No Federal funds appropriated or made available before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act may be used by a unit of Federal, State, or local government to carry out the highway project known as the `Trans-Texas Corridor'.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.5191:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...5191ih.txt.pdf

 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
  • Trackbacks are closed for this entry.
Comments
  • No comments exist for this entry.
Leave a comment

 Enter the above security code (required)

 Name (required)

 Email (will not be published) (required)

 Website

Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.