State transportation, homeland security committee to meet Wednesday in El Paso

Times staff report
Article Launched: 07/08/2008 03:51:43 PM MDT


The Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security will meet in El Paso on Wednesday at the El Paso Public Library.
In preparation for the next Texas Legislature in 2009, the committee will hear testimony on immigration, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and border violence.

"El Paso is on the forefront of so many issues, but especially those we will take up July 9," Senator John Carona (R-Dallas), Chairman of the committee, said in a news release. "My colleagues and I look forward to coming from around the state to see firsthand the unique challenges and innovative solutions that we have come to expect from our visits here."

Senator Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso), a member of the committee, added, "Border communities such as El Paso have the most to win or lose by the right or wrong approach to border security."

Testimony will be heard from Richard Wiles, El Paso Sheriff-elect; David Cuthbertson, El Paso FBI Special Agent in Charge; John Jack Riley, El Paso DEA Special Agent in Charge; Steve McCraw, Director, Governor's Office of Homeland Security; Jose Rodriguez, El Paso County Attorney; and others.

The hearing will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the main auditorium of the El Paso Public Library, 501 Oregon.