Kirlin, Miss Florence, Office of the Assistant Secretary of State for Con- Public Health Department, State of California, letter from.. Senate, reference to proposed bill in. 15, 23 SOUTHWESTERN BORDER PROJECTS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1950 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, The subcommittee met at 10:30 a. m., Hon. A. S. J. Carnahan (chairman) presiding. Mr. CARNAHAN. The committee will please be in order. We have before us this morning three bills, H. R. 6031, H. R. 7691, and H. R. 6304. H. R. 6031 and H. R. 7691 deal with sanitation projects. H. R. 6304 is a little more comprehensive than the first two bills. We have with us this morning one of our colleagues, Congressman Patten, whom we are glad to hear at this time for an explanation of his bill. [H. R. 7691, 81st Cong., 2d sess.] A BILL To authorize an agreement between the United States and Mexico for the joint operation and maintenance by the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, of the Douglas-Agua Prieta sanitation project, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State is authorized, subject to the conditions provided in this Act, to enter into an agreement with the appropriate official or officials of the United Mexican States for the operation and maintenance by the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, of the DouglasAgua Prieta sanitation project, located at Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, heretofore constructed by said Commission, which agreement shall contain such provisions relating to a division between the two Governments of the costs of such operation and maintenance, or of the work involved therein, as may be recommended by said Commission and approved by the Government of Mexico and by the Secretary of State on behalf of the Government of the United States: Provided, That no such agreement shall be entered into until the governing body of the city of Douglas, Arizona, has given assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of State that it will contribute not less than 25 per centum of the cost of such operation and maintenance allocated to the United States, so long as said project or parts thereof are operated by the said Commission or by the United States section thereof, or under its authority. SEC. 2. There is authorized to be appropriated to the United States section, International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, such sums as may be necessary to defray such costs as may accrue to the United States arising out of any such agreement for the operation and maintenance of such project by the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico: Provided, That funds heretofore appropriated to the Department of State under the heading "International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico," shall be available for expenditure for the purposes of this Act: Provided further, That any moneys received from the United Mexican States under the terms of any such agreement shall be available for expenditure in connection with any appropriations which may be available or which may be made for the purposes of this Act: And provided further, That moneys received from the city of Douglas, Arizona, pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall be available for expenditure in connection with any appropriations which may be available or which may be made available for the purposes of this Act. STATEMENT OF HON. HAROLD A. PATTEN, REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA Mr. PATTEN. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, this bill involves a sanitation project, in which the city of Douglas, Ariz., is interested, as well as Agua Prieta in Arizona and Agua Prieta in the State of Sonora, Mexico. Because of complications of our laws and the fact that the city of Douglas has difficulty in extending its sewerage lines into Mexico, because they are prohibited by law and because international law is also involved, we have this bill which permits the International Boundary and Water Commission, the city of Douglas, the city of Agua Prieta in Arizona and Agua Prieta in Mexico, to enter into an agreement to provide for a sanitation project. In order to do this, we must use the International Boundary and Water Commission. The State Department has a joint agreement negotiated between Mexico and the United States, so that we may enter into this. This is necessary and vital to those people down there. The city of Douglas has agreed, through its mayor, Ben Williams, and the city council of Douglas, to underwrite the annual cost to the extent of 25 percent. As I understand, the cost to the United States will be about $5,900. Mr. CARNAHAN. That is the operational cost? Mr. PATTEN. The operational cost in any one year. The city of Douglas has agreed to assume 25 percent of the United States operational cost. As to the city of Douglas itself, our sewage disposal problem is taken care of but, because of the possibility of the spread of disease, it is necessary that they go into this project. But in order to do it, we have to have this bill approved. I think it is agreed to by the State Department and it seems to make sense on the face of it, in order to make Douglas and Agua Prieta, Ariz., a decent place to live. I am therefore appealing to this committee for approval of this bill. If there are any questions, I should be glad to try to answer them. Mr. BURLESON. What about the initial cost of construction? Mr. PATTEN. I do not know about that. Mr. BURLESON. Is it contemplated under the bill that the Federal Government would pay that? Mr. PATTEN. I do not believe so. I have here a communication from the mayor of Douglas in which he indicates that the disposal plant will be constructed within 6 weeks of the date of the letter, and for that reason they ask an expedition of the bill. I do not think the question of construction cost is involved here, it is a question of the operational cost. They agree to assume 25 percent of the operational In order to dispose of this sewage, it has to go across the Mexican border, because of the downfall of the land. cost. Mr. BURLESON. Do you know anything about the sewer tax structure? What is it in the city of Douglas or Agua Prieta? Do they have any tax at all? Mr. PATTEN. Yes. I do not know exactly what it is in Douglas, but the cost is divided among the property owners on the basis of assessments. Mr. BURLESON. As I understand it, the real reason for the city of Douglas' interest in this matter is that while their own system is probably adequate for their own protection, they feel they must be protected from any possible danger from across the border? |