{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-and-ciudad-juarez-mayor-talk-international-trade-boost", "Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Ciudad Juarez Mayor Talk International Trade to Boost Economies of Border Communities", "2024-08-22", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SUNLAND PARK, N.M. \u2014 On Wednesday, August 21, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) discussed trade and economic development opportunities for New Mexico\u2019s second district in a meeting with Ciudad Juarez Mayor Cruz P\u00e9rez Cu\u00e9llar and as well as various federal, state, local and business leaders.\n\n\u201cHaving grown up on both sides of the border, I understand how critical cross-border trade is not just for the border, but across our country. I\u2019m grateful to Mayor P\u00e9rez Cu\u00e9llar for joining me in this productive conversation about how my work in Congress can support trade and economic development for our economies,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cI\u2019ve introduced legislation to invest in smarter inspection technology at ports of entry, which will decrease wait times for commercial and non-commercial vehicles and increase trade opportunities between the U.S. and Mexico, boosting our economy.\u201d\n\nThe group discussed trade, the U.S.-Mexico relationship and economic development opportunities. Vasquez highlighted the need for cross-border collaboration on trade and security issues, placing particular emphasis on topics such as the Sunland Park Passenger Vehicle Lane and growing Santa Teresa\u2019s port of entry. Vasquez was also joined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, Santa Teresa Port Director Tony Hall and President of the Border Industrial Association Jerry Pacheco.\n\nMexico is the United States\u2019 largest trading partner, with nearly $800 billion in trade taking place between the two countries last year alone. New Mexico depends on trade with Mexico as a critical source of manufactured goods and raw materials, as well as a market for New Mexican products.\n\nLast year, Vasquez introduced the Economic Opportunity for Border Communities Act, which would require the Department of Commerce to develop a national strategy to increase the number of jobs in key industries such as trade, manufacturing, transportation and agriculture in border communities.\n\nVasquez also introduced the Smart Border Protection Act, which would invest in smart, non-intrusive inspection technology to detect drugs and speed up wait times for commercial traffic and non-commercial vehicular traffic.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-and-ciudad-juarez-mayor-talk-international-trade-boost"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7956500630825758, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}