January 25, 2000

"Healthy Gente" Presentation at Healthy People 2010 Conference

January 23-24, 2000

Design Team Meeting & Swearing In

January 10, 2000

Reception for Border Health Commissioners

December 15, 1999

PRESIDENT CLINTON APPOINTS EIGHT MEMBERS TO THE
U.S. SECTION OF THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION

Press Release

Dr. Catherine Torres

Dr. Jeffrey Brandon

Press Release

March 23, 1999

March 11, 1999

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES SIX MEMBERS TO THE U.S. SECTION OF
THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION

Press Release

UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION

In October, 1994, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law(P.L.) 103-400, which authorizes and encourages the President to conclude an agreement with Mexico to establish a binational commission to be known as the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission(BHC).

The primary goals of the Commission are to institutionalize a domestic focus on border health, which can transcend political changes; and to create an effective venue for binational discussion to address public health issues and problems.

President Clinton has requested that Congress provide $1.5 million in fiscal year 2000 for the Border Health Commission. Previous appropriations have included $800,000 and $1 million in fiscal years 1998 and 1999. Appropriations have been assigned to the office of International and Refugee Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assist in the creation of the U.S. side of the BHC and for direct support to the four U.S. border states.

The framers of the legislation believed that the proposed BHC would require significant participation and support from Federal and State representitives from both countries. An important challenge for the Commisiion will be to bring together Federal,state,local and public/private resources in dynamic partnreships to improve the health and well being of the border populations.

Memberships for the U.S. side of the Commission will include the Secretary of Health and human Services as Chairperson; the commissioner of health or chief health officer from the States fo Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Also on the commission, will be two individuals from each of the border states who are nominated by the State Governor and appointed by the President from among individuals residing in the border area. These individuals must have demonstrated ties to the community based organizations with demonstrated interest and expertise in health issues of the U.S.-Mexico border area. Nominees from New Mexico have been submitted for consideration and we are awaiting action by the President.

The BHC will educate others about the unique challenges at the border through outreach activities, data collection and analysis, and joint collaborative efforts. Furthermore, the BHC will seek to create a shared commitment among public and private sector stakeholders to find solutions that involve collective and coordinated actions by government, non-governmental organizations, and the communities involved.

For additional information please contact:

J. Alex Valdez, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Health
Commission Member Designee
505-827-2613

Daniel N. Reyna, Director, New Mexico Border Health Office
Member, Federal-State Design Team for the Border Health Commission
505-528-5154/5156; 1-800-784-0394; dreyna@nmsu.edu
1170 N. Solano, Ste 'L' , Las Cruces, NM 88001

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THE SOLUTION:
THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION

In 1994, through Public Law 103-400, Congress authorized the President to conclude an agreement with Mexico to establish the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission to server as an international authority to design, coordinate, and fund programs on health, water resources, sewage treatment, vector control, and air quality along the border. The Commission was established to enhance existing state and federal border initiatives by providing a joint, coordinated, cooperative, and comprehensive attack on health problems on both sides of the border. Membership of the U.S. section of the Commission would include 13 members, with representation from the Secretary of Health (HHS), each border state Commissioner of Health, and two individuals residing in each border state the border area.

To date, Congress has not appropriated any funds for its implementation. To adequately address border health problems, it is imperative that Congress provide funding for the implementation of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission. The Commission is the only entity that calls for binational support and authority at the federal level and is the only solution that provides for a coordinated and comprehensive response to enact solutions along the border. The Commission offers a conduit through which permanent staff and resources can be allocated to address the health problems of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Since 1989, the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission has received state and federal level support from government officials and leaders within the community, including:

American Medical Association
Arizona Medical Association
Arizona-Mexico Border Health Foundation
New Mexico Border Health Council
California Medical Association
Good Neighbor Environmental Board
New Mexico Medical Association
Texas Medical Association
U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association
All ten U.S.-Mexico Border State Governors
The United States Congress

WHY EXISTING BORDER INITIATIVES WON'T WORK

The La Paz Agreement for Protection of the Border Environment was signed by Presidents Reagan and de la Madrid in August 1983, with the intent to strengthen cooperative and unilateral efforts by addressing environmental conditions on the border. The La Paz Agreement is limited to air pollution in Mexico City and sewage flows from Tijuana into South San Diego County, leaving vector control, rabies, drinking water quality, and other issues unaddressed. Furthermore, the La Paz Agreement does not invest authority to issue binding agreements.

The Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC) and North American Development Bank (NADBank) were established in November 1983 to assist local communities and other project sponsors in developing and implementing environmental infrastructure projects in the border zone. The NADBank and the BECC do not address the issues of disease tracking, vector control, or air quality along the border.

The U.S.-Mexico Border Health Task Force was formed in November 1994 by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide guidance relating to "planning, developing, and implementing strategies that coordinate, modify, and redirect health resources to the U.S.-Mexico Border region." The HRSA projects do not involve significant participation from Mexican representatives, do not provide adequate funding to effect environmental health improvements along the entire U.S.-Mexico border, and are not comprehensive in scope.

The Binational Tuberculosis Elimination Campaign, an initiative led by the Texas Department of Health, is a binational, collaborative effort aimed at eradicating TB in the United States and Mexico. The campaign is a single-issue campaign and does not have the authority to issue a binding agreement between the U.S. and Mexico.

The Interagency Coordinating Committee is a result of a memorandum of understanding between the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Public Health Service which coordinates environmental health projects along the U.S.-Mexico border by combining expertise and resources of state and federal agencies. The ICC does not have funds to initiate new projects along the border and does not have the participation of a federal-level Mexican authority equivalent to the EPA or the U.S. Public Health Service.

The Rio Grande Pollution Correction Act (PL-100-465) gives the Secretary of State, through the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), the authority to complete agreements with the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Mexico to correct problems of pollution of the Rio Grande caused by sewage and waste discharge. The sole purpose of the legislation was to enable Congress to appropriate funds for the construction of the Nuevo Laredo wastewater treatment plant in Mexico, and any agreements under PL-100-465 are limited to recommended action.

The El Paso Field Office of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) provides a valuable service by providing the Secretariat function for the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association. The USMBHA serves an important role by providing a venue for professionals from the U.S. and Mexico to convene and discuss public health and environmental health concerns along the border. However, it is a voluntary, professional group that does not have the formal authority of both governments to make comprehensive public health and/or environmental policy changes along the border.

A LEGACY OF SUPPORT: HISTORICAL MILESTONES IN GAINING SUPPORT FOR THE COMMISSION

Border health advocates have been working for nearly a decade toward the implementation of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission.

1988	Physician representatives from Texas border counties submit resolutions to the Texas Medical Association asking for support for the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission and requesting TMA to petition the AMA for support.
1989	Texas Medical Association holds the first annual Border Health Conference in El Paso where more than 200 participants develop strategies to promote establishment of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission.
1990	Journal of American Medical Association publishes an article calling for establishment of a permanent U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Health Commission.
1990	California Medical Association continued development of the border state network by sponsoring the Second Border Health Conference in San Diego.
1991	Texas Medical Association sponsors the third Border Health Conference in McAllen, Texas, which led to AMA approval of a TMA resolution to seek legislation to establish the Border Health Commission.
1991	The Health Services Committee of the Arizona-Mexico Commission calls for establishment of the Border Health Commission.
1992	The AMA drafts legislation which is sent to state associations for review. TMA representatives work with Texas Congressman Ronald Coleman to file legislation.
1993	Representatives from U.S. border states and medical and health organizations meet in Arizona to make policy recommendations concerning an updated version of the Commission bill.
1993	The AMA, with support from the four state medical associations, develops a strategy to introduce legislation through Congressman Coleman's office.
1994	All ten U.S.-Mexico Border Governors sign a joint communique that supports the establishment of the Commission.
1994	TMA testifies in support of House Bill 2305 before Congressman Henry Waxman's Subcommittee on Health and Environment of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
1994	Senator Jeff Bingaman (New Mexico) introduces Senate Bill 1225, co-sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) and Senator John McCain (Arizona). The full Senate approves S. 1225. Congressman Coleman accepts the Senate version, and on October 5, the U.S. Congress approves the legislation.
1994	On October 22, 1994, U.S. President Bill Clinton signs Public Law 103-400 which authorizes the President to enter into negotiations to establish the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission.
1996	Six border state Senators follow the lead of Senator Jeff Bingaman and sign a letter to President Clinton expressing their support for implementation of PL-103-400 and the establishment of the Commission.
1996	In June 1996, President Clinton responds to Senatorial letter reaffirming his support for the Commission and indicating that informal communications have been opened with the Mexican government. He asks for support from U.S. Senators to obtain funding for the Commission.

TRANSFORMING IDEAS INTO ACTION: ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE

For more information, please contact:

Daniel M. Reyna Director, NM Border Health Office 1170 N Solano Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 dreyna@nmsu.edu (505) 528-5154 (505) 528-6024 fax

Alice Salcido Office of Senator Jeff Bingaman 148 Loretto Town Center 505 South Main Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 Alice_Salcido@bingaman.senate.gov (505) 523-6561 (505) 523-6584 fax

New Mexico Border Health Office District III, Public Health Division 1170 N. Solano, Ste. L Las Cruces, NM 88001 Phone: (505) 528-5156 Fax: (505) 528-6045 Toll free: 1-800-784-0394 bho@nmsu.edu

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New Mexico's motto is Crescit Eundo     (It Grows As It Goes) Last Modified: Monday, August 28, 2000