BORDER TRADE ALLIANCE RECOGNIZES CUELLAR
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Sep 20, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Lesley Lopez,McAllen, TX – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX 28) was honored to receive the ‘Friend of the Americas’ Award from the Border Trade Alliance during its 21st Century Border conference at the McAllen Convention Center, on Sept. 9, 2010. Sam Vale, Vice-President of BTA and President of Telemundo 40, presented Congressman Cuellar with the organization’s highest honor, the Friend of the Americas Award.
“As a life long member of the border community, it is an honor to receive this award,” said Congressman Cuellar. “It’s important to recognize the immense, positive impact of border trade, not just at the local level, but nationally. In a time of economic fragility, we need to do all we can to strengthen and protect our ties with Mexico.”
The award is bestowed on those leaders who are committed to increasing the economic and cultural ties across our borders.
“The congressman’s comments on Thursday made clear that the country is fortunate to have an individual with his commitment to better borders serving in Congress,” Nelson Balido, BTA President, said. “He clearly understands that cross-border trade can bring positive economic and community-level contributions, but that we must address some critical public safety and security issues in Mexico in order to realize trade’s full potential and strengthen the U.S.-Mexico relationship.”
Past recipients include former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Dr. Herminio Blanco, Mexico’s chief negotiator of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Founded in 1986, the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) is a grassroots, non-profit organization that serves as a forum for participants to address key issues affecting trade and economic development in North America.
The BTA represents a network of 1.8 million public and private sector representatives, including business leaders, chambers of commerce and industry, academic institutions, economic development corporations, industrial parks, transport companies, custom brokers, manufacturers, and federal, state, and local government officials and agencies
