Tournament: University of California-Berkeley | Round: 2 | Opponent: West BP | Judge: Rufus Coates-Welsh

Niles West IT 1AC Cal

Plan Text

Plan: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement toward the government of Cuba by repealing Section 211 of the 1998 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Contention 1: WTO

Section 211 has kept the U.S. in noncompliance with TRIPS for a decade

Riley 07
Michael, JD candidate at the University of Miami. "Cigars and Rum: Hazardous to the Health of Intellectual Property Law? How the Cohiba Cigar and Havana Club Rum Cases Reveal a ’Carve-Out’ for Intellectual Property Disputes with a Cuban Nexus" The University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Winter, 2006/2007), pp. 457-486)
On July 7, 1999, the European Community formally took issue with Section 211
AND
with European trade retaliation, there has been no realization of those threats.

U.S. failure to comply with the WTO ruling on Havana Club undermines the credibility of the dispute settlement body.

New 13
New, 3/26/2013 (William – Intellectual Property Watch, United States Chided As TRIPS Scofflaw at WTO, Intellectual Property Watch, p. http://www.ip-watch.org/2013/03/26/united-states-chided-as-trips-scofflaw-at-wto/-http://www.ip-watch.org/2013/03/26/united-states-chided-as-trips-scofflaw-at-wto/)
"The conduct of the United States unscrupulously discredits the WTO dispute settlement system and
AND
multilateral system of trade," Venezuela said in its statement (unofficial translation).

Repeal is necessary to TRIPS compliance

Taylor 04
Emily, J.D. Candidate, 2004, Northwestern University School of Law; B.A. Duke University, 2001. "The Havana Club Saga: Threatening More than Just "Cuba Coke"" http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=157826context=njilb)
Certainly, the potential for future U.S. investment in Cuba is threatened
AND
its obligations under the TRIPS Agreement and under the WTO Dispute Settlement system.

Compliance with TRIPS is key to the credibility and survival of the WTO

Levy 2k
Charles S. Levy, Partner, Wilmer, Cutler 26 Pickering, Washington, D.C., 2000
~"Implementing Trips—A Test of Political Will," Law and Policy in International Business, 31 Law 26 Pol’y Int’l Bus. 789, Lexis~
The significant noncompliance with TRIPS that we are facing now poses a challenge to the
AND
areas that may also require members to adopt new legal or regulatory systems.

Scenario 1 is Protectionism

Collapse of the TRIPS system causes global protectionism

Straus 06
Professor of Law at the Universities of Munich and Ljubljana2006
~Joseph, also Chairman of the Managing Board of the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law in Munich, The John Marshall Law School Review of Intellectual Property Law, Fall, 2006 6 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 1 lexis~
Eleven years after the WTO Global Economic Order was established, with GATT 1994 and
AND
result of the abolition of quota regulations on December 31, 2004. 104-http://web.lexis-nexis.com.turing.library.northwestern.edu/universe/document?_m=fac6f42432633d2b2223d98f1aa277a326_docnum=126wchp=dGLbVlz-zSkVb26_md5=8e0f97736b79d9026cf4585ebf2d2d12

Trade protectionism causes nuclear war

Panzner 8
Michael, faculty at the New York Institute of Finance, 25-year veteran of the global stock, bond, and currency markets who has worked in New York and London for HSBC, Soros Funds, ABN Amro, Dresdner Bank, and JPMorgan Chase, "Financial Armageddon: Protect Your Future from Economic Collapse," p. 136-138)
The rise in isolationism and protectionism will bring about ever more heated arguments and dangerous
AND
list of allies from around the world into a growing number of conflicts. 

Empirically true —- WTO prevents the trade breakdowns that fuel conflict

Sevilla 07
Christina Sevilla, Asst. U.S. trade representative for intergovernmental affairs 2007 ~stefan a. riesenfeld symposium 2007: article: "The WTO Doha Development Agenda: What is at Stake", 25 Berkeley J. Int’l L. 425, LEXIS~
The economic history of the 20th century provides a potent demonstration of the vast benefits
AND
rule of law, and allow for countries to settle their trade disputes peacefully

Scenario 2 is Multilateralism

WTO credibility key to the inclusion of growing economies into multilateral talks on trade and agreements

The Economist 13 
The Economist, US newspaper on international politics and business news and opinion. ’The other conclave Can the WTO save itself from irrelevance?" http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21573549-can-wto-save-itself-irrelevance-other-conclave 3/16/2013
The optimistic take among the WTO candidates, all of whom refuse to declare Doha
AND
is some common ground with the choice that faced the cardinals this week.

Multilateral institutions prevent great power nuclear war

The Toronto Star 04
"The end of war", 12-30-04, lexis
War is deeply embedded in our history and our culture, probably since before we
AND
solve the problem of war within the context of the existing state system.

There’s no alternative to a multilateral trade system —- collapses causes instability and great power conflict.

Panitchpakdi 04
Panitchpakdi, 2/26/2004 Supachai – secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, American Leadership and the World Trade Organization, p. http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spsp_e/spsp22_e.htm-http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spsp_e/spsp22_e.htm
The second point is that strengthening the world trading system is essential to America’s wider
AND
constrained, not by multilateral rules, but by the absence of rules. 

Scenario 3 is Food Security

WTO improves food security —- self-sufficiency fails

Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director General, Why trade matters for improving food security, 4-13-05, WTO NEWS: SPEECHES — DG SUPACHAI PANITCHPAKDI, http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spsp_e/spsp37_e.htm
Today there is, however, the realisation that a sustainable domestic food supply cannot
AND
for production down and ensure that markets will remain open at critical moments. 

Global war

Bill Van Auken, 4/15/08 ~Politician and activist for the Socialist Equality Party and was a presidential candidate in the U.S. election of 2004, "Amid mounting food crisis, governments fear revolution of the hungry",  http://taraqee.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/amid-mounting-food-crisis-governments-fear-revolution-of-the-hungry/ -http://www.countercurrents.org/auken310708.htm
If food prices go on as they are today, then the consequences on the
AND
than a drop in the bucket in the face of thelooming global catastrophe.
Contention 2: IPR

Repeal key to intellectual property leadership for US

Pava 2011 (Mindy Pava, Executive Symposium Editor, Emory International Law Review; J.D. Candidate, Emory University School of Law (2011); B.S., Northwestern University (2004). "COMMENT: THE CUBAN CONUNDRUM: PROPOSING AN INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK REGISTRY FOR WELL-KNOWN FOREIGN MARKS" LexisNexis 2011)
With an outright repeal of Section 211, the United States could again prove that
AND
States cannot afford to have its intellectual property threatened and subjected to reprisals.

It spills over reinforces global IPR and trade objectives

Reinsch 10 (Bill Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, representing some 400 companies on focuses—and focuses on trade policy issues, a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK IMPLICATIONS OF HAVANA CLUB AND SECTION 211 OF THE OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 1999." HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION. MARCH 3, 2010. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg55221/html/CHRG-111hhrg55221.htm)
Repealing 211 would deny the Castro regime any rationale for retaliating against trademarks of U
AND
to the Patent and Trademark Office and to the courts where it belongs.

That causes several scenarios for disease spread

First is innovation —- IPR incentivizes research and development. Copycat drugs don’t fill-in.

Kaufmann 08
Kaufmann, 4/23/2008 (Judith – retired foreign service officer and former director of the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Health Affairs, Intellectual Property Rights and the Pharmaceutical Industry, Focus on Intellectual Property Rights, p. http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2008/04/20080429230451myleen0.4181027.html~~23axzz2ZG5uBh4Z-http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2008/04/20080429230451myleen0.4181027.html)
Drugs that cure AIDS and many other diseases are available precisely because of patent protection
AND
, are not being used to further scientific knowledge and find new cures.

Second is trademark protection. Strong trademark protection is the best defense against counterfeit drugs.

Powell 10
Powell, February 2010 (Adam – Research Fellow for the Law 26 Bioscience Project, J.D. Candidate at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Benchmark Legislation: A Measured Approach in the Fight Against Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals, Hastings Law Journal, p. Lexis-Nexis)
Traditionally, the first line of defense for pharmaceutical companies is a portfolio of strong
AND
their intellectual property and ensure maximum punishments for criminals by maintaining strong trademarks.

Third is harmonization. IPR harmonization undermines the ability to market counterfeit drugs.

Ferrill 07
Ferrill, Spring 2007 (Elizabeth – Law Clerk to the Honorable Liam O’Grady, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Clearing the Swamp for Intellectual Property Harmonization: Understanding and Appreciating the Barriers to Full TRIPS Compliance for Industrializing and Non-Industrializing Countries, University of Baltimore Intellectual Property Law Journal, p. Lexis-Nexis)
In 1994, the Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
AND
difficult over the past decade. There are a number of possible explanations.

Counterfeit drugs bolster antibiotic resistance.

Washington Post 13
Washington Post, 2/5/2013 (How fake drugs cause the spread of untreatable TB in developing countries, p. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/02/05/how-fake-drugs-cause-the-spread-of-untreatable-tb-in-developing-countries/-http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/02/05/how-fake-drugs-cause-the-spread-of-untreatable-tb-in-developing-countries/)
Tuberculosis, a disease that destroys lung tissue, is more commonly associated with the
AND
morph into new strains, making them harder and more expensive to treat.

Antibiotic resistance is a doomsday scenario involving superbugs and life-threatening infections that cause extinction

Castillo 11
Castillo, 10/28/2011 (Rafael, Doomsday scenario with ’superbugs’, Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. http://business.inquirer.net/27353/doomsday-scenario-with-E28098superbugsE28099)
From time to time, we get reports about emerging superbugs—microbes which are
AND
compromised immune systems—is ill-fated prey to these ogre microbes.

Infectious diseases are inevitable. Rapid evolution and adaptation risk extinction

Walsh 13
Walsh, 7/10/2013 (Bryan, From AIDS to SARS to MERS, Emerging Infectious Diseases Remain a Dire Threat, Time, p. http://science.time.com/2013/07/10/from-aids-to-sars-to-mers-emerging-infectious-diseases-remain-a-dire-threat/)
Now the world is facing another emerging infectious disease. MERS — Middle East respiratory
AND
as experts like Morens and Fauci know, we won’t be lucky forever.

Contention 3: Solvency

Congressional action is the best mechanism for repealing section 211

Carroll 2k (Daniel O. Carroll is a member of Schenck, Price,
AND
8 Tul. J. Int’l 26 Comp. L. 507  LexisNexis)
The judicial application of section 211 seems to be in accordance with the traditional notions
AND
pro-tection they seek in the competitive U.S. markets.

Now is key – Other countries are criticizing the U.S.’s failure to resolve the Havana Club case.

Agence France Presse, 6/25/2013 (EU, Cuba spar with US over ’Havana Club’ rum, p. Lexis-Nexis)

The European Union and Cuba locked horns with theUnited States on Tuesday at theWorld Trade
AND
that enough was enough, a message echoed by members, including China.

The plan can restore IP credibility without removing the current embargo.

Pava 2011 (Mindy – Executive Symposium Editor for the Emory International Law Review, J.D. Candidate at Emory University School of Law, The Cuban Conundrum: Proposing an International Trademark Registry for Well-Known Foreign Marks, Emory International Law Review, p. Lexis-Nexis)

2. Does Section 211 Erode the United States’s International Standing? Since Fidel Castro’s
AND
the human rights arena, and the United States should make that clear.

Eliminating the Cuban IP policy allows the U.S. to harmonize IP rights globally.

Riley, Winter 2007 (Michael – J.D. Candidate at the University of Miami, Cigars and Rum: Hazardous to the Health of Intellectual Property Law?: How the Cohiba Cigar and Havana Club Rum Cases Reveal a ’Carve-Out’ for Intellectual Property Disputes with a Cuban Nexus, The University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, p. Lexis-Nexis)

The Havana Club controversy has been cited as one obstacle that for several years caused
AND
withintrademark law, the United States’ Cuban ’carve-out’ upsets this balance.

Tournament: University of California-Berkeley | Round: 5 | Opponent: Bellarmine PR | Judge: I forget
Same as round two without the Food Security scenario

Tournament: Dowling Catholic Paradigm | Round: Doubles | Opponent: Iowa City West TS | Judge: I forgot the panel

NW IT 1AC

Plan Text

Plan: The United States federal government should authorize the North American Development Bank to fund transportation infrastructure improvement projects along the United States-Mexico border.

Contention 1: Economy

Infrastructure needed now—border congestion is undermining economic trade between the US and Mexico—recent reports prove

EFT, 10/3/13(EFT—the global leader in business intelligence and C-level networking for the transport, logistics and supply chain industry; "Congestion at the Border"; Eye for Transport; http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border-http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border)
Much cited as the beneficiary of nearsourcing, Mexico is struggling with congestion along its
AND
improvements and proper allocation of personnel are necessary to help reduce the congestion. 

Plan is key to resolve congestion and boost border infrastructure for both the US and Mexico

Wilson 12 (Christopher Wilson, associate at the Mexico Institute of teh Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "U.S. Competitiveness: The Mexican Connection" 2012. www.issues.org/28.4/p_wilson.html)

Policy for a competitive region¶ The border. With an integrated regional manufacturing sector
AND
entire border would best facilitate the competitiveness of the United States and Mexico.

Plan catalyzes more investment

Mosqueda, Bachelor’s in journalism, 12 ~Priscila, 7-18-12, Texas Observer, "Sister Organizations Continue to Improve Infrastructure Along Border: Binational Institutions Fund Projects to Encourage Economic Growth," http://www.texasobserver.org/sister-organizations-continue-to-improve-infrastructure-along-border/, accessed 6-26-13~

Projects are partially funded by the Bank, with local, state and federal governments
AND
that will improve communities’ quality of life as well as promote economic growth. 

Infrastructure constraints create business uncertainty – it’s reverse causal

Donohue and Zozaya 11 (Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, José Zozaya President American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, 2011, "Steps to a 21st Century U.S.-Mexico Border A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Border Report" online @ http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/reports/2011_us_mexico_report.pdf

Businesses rely on just-in-time inventory management and depend on predictability and
AND
face regulators in reforming policy; however, more needs to be done.

Loss of confidence creates a negative feedback cycle annihilating the economy

Rubin et al 4 – PhD Economics, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institute and Chief Global Economist at Decision Economics inc. (Robert E. Rubin, Chairman of Citigroup Financial, Peter R. Roszag, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute, and Allen Sinai, Decision Economics, "Sustained Budget Deficits: The Risks of Financial and Fiscal Disarray" Paper presented The Andrew Brimmer Policy Forum, "National Economic and Financial Policies for Growth and Stability," Sunday, 1/4/04)
The loss of investorand creditorconfidence, both at home and abroad, may cause investorsand
AND
cause a further loss of confidence andpotentiallyspark another round of negative feedback effects.

Infrastructure is key to long-term Mexican growth

Aschauer 98 (David Alan Aschauer, Elmer W. Campbell Professor of Economics at Bates College. "The Role of Public Infrastructure Capital in Mexican Economic Growth" 1998. http://www.economiamexicana.cide.edu/num_anteriores/VII-1/02_ASCHAUER_47-78.pdf) VP

A number of tentative conclusions pertinent to Mexican infrastructure policy can be drawn from the
AND
— and a drop in annual growth of around 0.05 percent.  

Mexican economy is vital to the US – trade, , jobs, exports, fundamentals

Sarukhan, 12 (Arturo, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, "Mexico ’Critically Important’ to US Economy," Wilson Center, 2/24/12, video testimony, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/mexico-E28098critically-importantE28099-to-us-economy, Tashma)

It’s an incredibly strong relationship, for starters, because a lot of people sometimes
AND
critically important for the social well-being and the prosperity of Americans.

US is key to the global economy

Lagarde 13 (Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. "Strong U.S. Economy, Strong Global Economy—Two Sides of Same Coin" September 19, 2013. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2013/NEW091913A.htm)

In a world of increasing economic interconnections, the United States’s stake in the global
AND
a harsh new reality" across sectors, countries, and the world.

Economic collapse causes nuclear war

Harris 26 Burrows 9(Mathew, PhD European History @ Cambridge, counselor of the U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC) and Jennifer, member of the NIC’s Long Range Analysis Unit "Revisiting the Future: Geopolitical Effects of the Financial Crisis" http://www.ciaonet.org/journals/twq/v32i2/f_0016178_13952.pdf)
Of course, the report encompasses more than economics and indeed believes the future is
AND
within and between states in a more dog-eat-dog world. 

Studies prove our impact

Royal 10 — Jedidiah Royal, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction at the U.S. Department of Defense, M.Phil. Candidate at the University of New South Wales, 2010 ("Economic Integration, Economic Signalling and the Problem of Economic Crises," Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives, Edited by Ben Goldsmith and Jurgen Brauer, Published by Emerald Group Publishing, ISBN 0857240048, p. 213-215)

Less intuitive is how periods of economic decline may increase the likelihood of external conflict
AND
such, the view presented here should be considered ancillary to those views.

Contention 2: Manufacturing

Absent the plan, border delays will cause U.S. companies to offshore to Asia.

Leone 12 — Christopher Leone, Cronkite News, 6/1/12, "Panel says U.S.-Mexico border issues hinder huge economic opportunities" http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2012/06/panel-says-u-s-mexico-border-issues-hinder-huge-economic-opportunities/)

"Border friction costs us," Wilson said. "We don’t have to give
AND
is as much as 246 billion in backlogged maintenance to that infrastructure.

Improvements in border efficiency prevent production shut-downs — lower transportation costs solidify trends of nearshoring and sustain the manufacturing base.

Wilson 13 — Christopher E. Wilson, is an Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he develops the Institute’s research and programming on regional economic integration and U.S.-Mexico border affairs. He is the author of Working Together: Economic Ties between the United States and Mexico (Wilson Center, 2011), and an editor and author of the Institute’s forthcoming State of the Border Report (Christopher E. Wilson, Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, January 2013, "A U.S.-Mexico Economic Alliance: Policy Options for a Competitive Region," New Ideas for a New Era: Policy Options for the Next Stage in U.S.-Mexico Relations, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_us_mexico_relations.pdf-http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_us_mexico_relations.pdf, Accessed 09-14-2013)

At a time when Mexico is poised to experience robust economic growth, a manufacturing
AND
potential to shut down production until the needed parts arrive at their destination.

And the industry is in a downward spiral that’s about to hit a brink – prefer long term trends over snapshots

Nash-Hoff 12 (Michele Nash-Hoff, Founder and President at ElectroFab Sales, author of "Can American Manufacturing be Saved? Why we should and how we can"; "American Manufacturing Has Declined More Than Most Experts Have Thought,"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html)
A new report released by the Information Technology 26 Innovation Foundation (ITIF) presents
AND
innovation jobs (for example, research and design) will not thrive."

Additionally, border manufacturing is key to the aerospace and defense industry.

Guidi 11 — was the Fronteras reporter at KPBS, covering immigration, border issues and culture. She’s a journalist and producer with experience working in radio, print, and multimedia, and has reported from the Caribbean, South and Central America, as well as the U.S.-Mexico border region. She’s a recipient of Johns Hopkins University’s International Reporting Project (IRP) Fellowship, which took her to Haiti for a project about development aid and human rights in 2008. That year, she was also a finalist for the Livingston Award for International Reporting, given to U.S. journalists under 35 years of age. Previously, she did reporting and production work for the BBC public radio news program, The World. Her stories focused on Latin American politics, human rights, rural communities, immigration, popular culture and music. After earning a Master’s degree in journalism from U.C. Berkeley in 2002, she worked for independent radio producers The Kitchen Sisters. In 2003, she moved to Austin, TX, where she did production and reporting work for NPR’s weekly show, Latino USA. Ruxandra has also produced features and documentaries for the BBC World Service in Spanish, National Public Radio, The Walrus Magazine, Guernica Magazine, Virginia Quarterly Review, World Vision Report, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Dispatches and Marketplace radio programs (Ruxandra Guidi, Fronteras Desk, 09-28-2011, "Border Business: Aerospace As A Binational Industry," http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/sep/28/business-mexico-aerospace-industry-maquiladora-http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/sep/28/business-mexico-aerospace-industry-maquiladora, Accessed 09-18-2013)

With its high-profile speakers and 3D simulation stations, the second annual Baja
AND
aerospace companies with operations in the Mexican border state grew by 50 percent.

Aerospace decline causes global nuclear war

Pfaltzgraff 10 – Robert L, Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Security Studies at. The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and President of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, et al., Final Report of the IFPA-Fletcher Conference on National Security Strategy and Policy, "Air, Space, 26 Cyberspace Power in the 21st-Century", p. xiii-9
Deterrence Strategy In stark contrast to the bipolar Cold War nuclear setting, today’s security
AND
to war • A nuclear North Korea that escalates tensions on the Korean peninsula
What all of these have in common is the indispensable role that airpower would play in U.S. strategy and crisis management.

Our heuristic is empirically verifiable — deterrence and incentive theory provide an accurate explanation of international relations.

Moore 4 — Director at the Center for Security Law at the University of Virginia, 7-time Presidential Appointee and Honorary Editor of the American Journal of International Law (John Norton Moore, Solving the War Puzzle: Beyond the Democratic Peace, pp. 27-31)

As so broadly conceived, there is strong evidence that deterrence, that is,
AND
totality of external factors, that is, deterrence, that become crucial.

Aerospace key to hegemony

Lexington Institute 13
~Public policy think tank, "America Is A Superpower Because It Is An Air Power", 1/24, http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html-http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html~~ *we don’t defend the gendered discourse of this evidence
There is no question that the United States has the best military in the world
AND
that it is air dominance that enables this country to remain a superpower. 

The pursuit of hegemony is inevitable, sustainable, and prevents great power war

Ikenberry, Brooks, and Wohlforth 13 – *Stephen G. Brooks is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College, John Ikenberry is Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and Global Eminence Scholar at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, William C. Wohlforth is Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth College ("Lean Forward: In Defense of American Engagement", January/February 2013, Foreign Affairs, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/138468/stephen-g-brooks-g-john-ikenberry-and-william-c-wohlforth/lean-forward)
Of course, even if it is true that the costs of deep engagement fall
AND
an engaged and liberal leading power. The results could well be disastrous.

Solvency

Expanding the NADBank solves infrastructure development — the plan ensures accountability, private investment, and Mexico says yes.

Rodriguez 9 — Raul Rodriguez, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. He is also the Benson Chair in Banking and Finance and Distinguished Professor at the HEB School of Business and Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas and the President of RMI, an investment and trade consulting firm in Mexico. He served as CEO and Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADBank) until October 2005. Prior to joining the NADBank, he was Executive Director of the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank; the Bank’s Director for Asia; Mexico’s Trade Commissioner in Canada during the NAFTA negotiation; and Secretary of Economic Development for the Mexican border State of Tamaulipas. Mr. Rodriguez participates actively in community affairs at home in San Antonio, Texas, as Chairman of the World Affairs Council; Chairman Elect of The Free Trade Alliance; Mayoral appointee to the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of San Antonio; Chairman Elect and Vice President of the San Antonio - Mexico Friendship Council, among others. He is also a founding member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Advisory Council of the Harte Research Institute at Texas A26M University, the North American Forum, the U.S. - Mexico Futures Forum and the Border Trade Advisory Committee of the Texas Transportation Commission. He participated in the Foreign Affairs task force with President Calderon’s transition team in Mexico in October and November 2006 (Raul Rodriguez, The Wilson Center Mexico Institute and El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, June 2009, "The Future of the North American Development Bank", http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ20NADBANK.pdf-http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ NADBANK.pdf, Accessed 08-21-2013)

Many agencies and programs have a bearing on border issues, but the region still
AND
-term funds in a multi-year programming context might be available. 

NAD Bank solves infrastructure on the border and avoids domestic politics links

Balido, 08/29/11 (Nelson Balido—President of the Border Trade Alliance; "Bill to expand NADBank projects holds potential to make big impact for border."; Border Trade Alliance; http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html~~23top-http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html )

But Congress and the White House don’t have to look far for inspiration for how
AND
area’s quality of life and provide a needed boost to the region’s economy.

Plan catalyzes investment in renewables – the bank is key to financing and tech assistance.

Wood 10 — Duncan Wood, is the Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. For 17 years, Dr. Wood was a professor and the director of the International Relations Program at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City. He also held the role of researcher at the Centro de Derecho Económico Internacional at ITAM. He is a member of the Mexican National Research System, a member of the editorial board of Foreign Affairs Latinoamerica and has been an editorial advisor to Reforma newspaper. In 2007, he was a non?resident Fulbright Fellow. Between 2007 and 2009, he was technical secretary of the Red Mexicana de Energia, a group of experts in the area of energy policy in Mexico. He has been a Senior Associate with the Simon Chair and the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. His research focuses on Mexican energy policy, including renewable energy, and North American relations. He studied in the UK and Canada, receiving his PhD in Political Studies from Queen’s University, Canada in 1996 (Duncan Wood, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Mexico Institute, May 2010, "Environment, Development and Growth: U.S.-Mexico Cooperation in Renewable Energies", http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf-http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf, Accessed 08-22-2013)

Funding RE at the border – the role of the NADBANK¶ The North American
AND
projects that could benefit from assistance from the NADBank and from the BGC.

NADBank funding solves congestion and environmental concerns through bonds

DOT, 2/24/11 (US Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration; "Greening Transportation at the Border"; Green Border Report; http://www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov/GreenBorderRpt/green_border_final.pdf-http://www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov/GreenBorderRpt/green_border_final.pdf) 

A number of public agencies and institutions are actively financing investment in transportation infrastructure to
AND
financial products could attract individual and commercial investors to invest in environmental infrastructure projects

Tournament: Evanston | Round: 2 | Opponent: Lane Tech DC | Judge: Kevin Hirn

NW IT 1AC ETHS

Plan Text

Plan: The United States federal government should authorize the North American Development Bank to fund transportation infrastructure improvement projects along the United States-Mexico border.

Contention 1: Economy

Infrastructure needed now—border congestion is undermining economic trade between the US and Mexico

EFT, 10/3/13(EFT—the global leader in business intelligence and C-level networking for the transport, logistics and supply chain industry; "Congestion at the Border"; Eye for Transport; http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border-http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border)
Much cited as the beneficiary of nearsourcing, Mexico is struggling with congestion along its
AND
improvements and proper allocation of personnel are necessary to help reduce the congestion. 

Plan is key to resolve congestion and boost border infrastructure for both the US and Mexico

Wilson 12 (Christopher Wilson, associate at the Mexico Institute of teh Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "U.S. Competitiveness: The Mexican Connection" 2012. www.issues.org/28.4/p_wilson.html)

Policy for a competitive region¶ The border. With an integrated regional manufacturing sector
AND
entire border would best facilitate the competitiveness of the United States and Mexico.

Plan catalyzes more investment

Mosqueda, Bachelor’s in journalism, 12 ~Priscila, 7-18-12, Texas Observer, "Sister Organizations Continue to Improve Infrastructure Along Border: Binational Institutions Fund Projects to Encourage Economic Growth," http://www.texasobserver.org/sister-organizations-continue-to-improve-infrastructure-along-border/, accessed 6-26-13~

Projects are partially funded by the Bank, with local, state and federal governments
AND
that will improve communities’ quality of life as well as promote economic growth. 

Infrastructure constraints create business uncertainty – it’s reverse causal

Donohue and Zozaya 11 (Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, José Zozaya President American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, 2011, "Steps to a 21st Century U.S.-Mexico Border A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Border Report" online @ http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/reports/2011_us_mexico_report.pdf

Businesses rely on just-in-time inventory management and depend on predictability and
AND
face regulators in reforming policy; however, more needs to be done.

Loss of confidence creates a negative feedback cycle annihilating the economy

Rubin et al 4 – PhD Economics, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institute and Chief Global Economist at Decision Economics inc. (Robert E. Rubin, Chairman of Citigroup Financial, Peter R. Roszag, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute, and Allen Sinai, Decision Economics, "Sustained Budget Deficits: The Risks of Financial and Fiscal Disarray" Paper presented The Andrew Brimmer Policy Forum, "National Economic and Financial Policies for Growth and Stability," Sunday, 1/4/04)
The loss of investorand creditorconfidence, both at home and abroad, may cause investorsand
AND
cause a further loss of confidence andpotentiallyspark another round of negative feedback effects.

Infrastructure is key to long-term Mexican growth

Aschauer 98 (David Alan Aschauer, Elmer W. Campbell Professor of Economics at Bates College. "The Role of Public Infrastructure Capital in Mexican Economic Growth" 1998. http://www.economiamexicana.cide.edu/num_anteriores/VII-1/02_ASCHAUER_47-78.pdf) VP

A number of tentative conclusions pertinent to Mexican infrastructure policy can be drawn from the
AND
— and a drop in annual growth of around 0.05 percent.  

Mexican economy is vital to the US – trade, , jobs, exports, fundamentals

Sarukhan, 12 (Arturo, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, "Mexico ’Critically Important’ to US Economy," Wilson Center, 2/24/12, video testimony, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/mexico-E28098critically-importantE28099-to-us-economy, Tashma)

It’s an incredibly strong relationship, for starters, because a lot of people sometimes
AND
critically important for the social well-being and the prosperity of Americans.

US is key to the global economy

Lagarde 13 (Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. "Strong U.S. Economy, Strong Global Economy—Two Sides of Same Coin" September 19, 2013. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2013/NEW091913A.htm)

In a world of increasing economic interconnections, the United States’s stake in the global
AND
a harsh new reality" across sectors, countries, and the world.

Economic collapse causes nuclear war

Harris 26 Burrows 9(Mathew, PhD European History @ Cambridge, counselor of the U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC) and Jennifer, member of the NIC’s Long Range Analysis Unit "Revisiting the Future: Geopolitical Effects of the Financial Crisis" http://www.ciaonet.org/journals/twq/v32i2/f_0016178_13952.pdf)
Of course, the report encompasses more than economics and indeed believes the future is
AND
within and between states in a more dog-eat-dog world. 

Studies prove our impact

Royal 10 — Jedidiah Royal, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction at the U.S. Department of Defense, M.Phil. Candidate at the University of New South Wales, 2010 ("Economic Integration, Economic Signalling and the Problem of Economic Crises," Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives, Edited by Ben Goldsmith and Jurgen Brauer, Published by Emerald Group Publishing, ISBN 0857240048, p. 213-215)

Less intuitive is how periods of economic decline may increase the likelihood of external conflict
AND
such, the view presented here should be considered ancillary to those views.

Contention 2: Manufacturing

Absent the plan, border delays will cause U.S. companies to offshore to Asia.

Leone 12 — Christopher Leone, Cronkite News, 6/1/12, "Panel says U.S.-Mexico border issues hinder huge economic opportunities" http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2012/06/panel-says-u-s-mexico-border-issues-hinder-huge-economic-opportunities/)

"Border friction costs us," Wilson said. "We don’t have to give
AND
is as much as 246 billion in backlogged maintenance to that infrastructure.

AImprovements in border efficiency prevent production shut-downs — lower transportation costs solidify trends of nearshoring and sustain the manufacturing base.

Wilson 13 — Christopher E. Wilson, is an Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he develops the Institute’s research and programming on regional economic integration and U.S.-Mexico border affairs. He is the author of Working Together: Economic Ties between the United States and Mexico (Wilson Center, 2011), and an editor and author of the Institute’s forthcoming State of the Border Report (Christopher E. Wilson, Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, January 2013, "A U.S.-Mexico Economic Alliance: Policy Options for a Competitive Region," New Ideas for a New Era: Policy Options for the Next Stage in U.S.-Mexico Relations, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_us_mexico_relations.pdf-http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_us_mexico_relations.pdf, Accessed 09-14-2013)

At a time when Mexico is poised to experience robust economic growth, a manufacturing
AND
potential to shut down production until the needed parts arrive at their destination.

And the industry is in a downward spiral that’s about to hit a brink – prefer long term trends over snapshots

Nash-Hoff 12 (Michele Nash-Hoff, Founder and President at ElectroFab Sales, author of "Can American Manufacturing be Saved? Why we should and how we can"; "American Manufacturing Has Declined More Than Most Experts Have Thought,"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html)
A new report released by the Information Technology 26 Innovation Foundation (ITIF) presents
AND
innovation jobs (for example, research and design) will not thrive."

Additionally, border manufacturing is key to the aerospace and defense industry.

Guidi 11 — was the Fronteras reporter at KPBS, covering immigration, border issues and culture. She’s a journalist and producer with experience working in radio, print, and multimedia, and has reported from the Caribbean, South and Central America, as well as the U.S.-Mexico border region. She’s a recipient of Johns Hopkins University’s International Reporting Project (IRP) Fellowship, which took her to Haiti for a project about development aid and human rights in 2008. That year, she was also a finalist for the Livingston Award for International Reporting, given to U.S. journalists under 35 years of age. Previously, she did reporting and production work for the BBC public radio news program, The World. Her stories focused on Latin American politics, human rights, rural communities, immigration, popular culture and music. After earning a Master’s degree in journalism from U.C. Berkeley in 2002, she worked for independent radio producers The Kitchen Sisters. In 2003, she moved to Austin, TX, where she did production and reporting work for NPR’s weekly show, Latino USA. Ruxandra has also produced features and documentaries for the BBC World Service in Spanish, National Public Radio, The Walrus Magazine, Guernica Magazine, Virginia Quarterly Review, World Vision Report, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Dispatches and Marketplace radio programs (Ruxandra Guidi, Fronteras Desk, 09-28-2011, "Border Business: Aerospace As A Binational Industry," http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/sep/28/business-mexico-aerospace-industry-maquiladora-http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/sep/28/business-mexico-aerospace-industry-maquiladora, Accessed 09-18-2013)

With its high-profile speakers and 3D simulation stations, the second annual Baja
AND
aerospace companies with operations in the Mexican border state grew by 50 percent.

Aerospace decline causes global nuclear war

Pfaltzgraff 10 – Robert L, Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Security Studies at. The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and President of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, et al., Final Report of the IFPA-Fletcher Conference on National Security Strategy and Policy, "Air, Space, 26 Cyberspace Power in the 21st-Century", p. xiii-9
Deterrence Strategy In stark contrast to the bipolar Cold War nuclear setting, today’s security
AND
to war • A nuclear North Korea that escalates tensions on the Korean peninsula
What all of these have in common is the indispensable role that airpower would play in U.S. strategy and crisis management.

Our heuristic is empirically verifiable — deterrence and incentive theory provide an accurate explanation of international relations.

Moore 4 — Director at the Center for Security Law at the University of Virginia, 7-time Presidential Appointee and Honorary Editor of the American Journal of International Law (John Norton Moore, Solving the War Puzzle: Beyond the Democratic Peace, pp. 27-31)

As so broadly conceived, there is strong evidence that deterrence, that is,
AND
totality of external factors, that is, deterrence, that become crucial.

Aerospace key to hegemony

Lexington Institute 13
~Public policy think tank, "America Is A Superpower Because It Is An Air Power", 1/24, http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html-http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html~~ *we don’t defend the gendered discourse of this evidence
There is no question that the United States has the best military in the world
AND
that it is air dominance that enables this country to remain a superpower. 

The pursuit of hegemony is inevitable, sustainable, and prevents great power war

Ikenberry, Brooks, and Wohlforth 13 – *Stephen G. Brooks is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College, John Ikenberry is Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and Global Eminence Scholar at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, William C. Wohlforth is Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth College ("Lean Forward: In Defense of American Engagement", January/February 2013, Foreign Affairs, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/138468/stephen-g-brooks-g-john-ikenberry-and-william-c-wohlforth/lean-forward)
Of course, even if it is true that the costs of deep engagement fall
AND
an engaged and liberal leading power. The results could well be disastrous.

Any decline in heg will cause US policy makers to lash-out and start more wars

Beckley ’12
Michael, Assistant professor of political science at Tufts, research fellow in the International Security Program at Harvard Kennedy School’s. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, "The Unipolar Era: Why American Power Persists and China’s Rise Is Limited," PhD dissertation, AM

One danger is that declinism could prompt trade conflicts and immigration restrictions. The results
AND
, and disease, which may fester without a leader to rallycollective action.

Solvency

Expanding the NADBank solves infrastructure development — the plan ensures accountability, private investment, and Mexico says yes.

Rodriguez 9 — Raul Rodriguez, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. He is also the Benson Chair in Banking and Finance and Distinguished Professor at the HEB School of Business and Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas and the President of RMI, an investment and trade consulting firm in Mexico. He served as CEO and Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADBank) until October 2005. Prior to joining the NADBank, he was Executive Director of the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank; the Bank’s Director for Asia; Mexico’s Trade Commissioner in Canada during the NAFTA negotiation; and Secretary of Economic Development for the Mexican border State of Tamaulipas. Mr. Rodriguez participates actively in community affairs at home in San Antonio, Texas, as Chairman of the World Affairs Council; Chairman Elect of The Free Trade Alliance; Mayoral appointee to the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of San Antonio; Chairman Elect and Vice President of the San Antonio - Mexico Friendship Council, among others. He is also a founding member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Advisory Council of the Harte Research Institute at Texas A26M University, the North American Forum, the U.S. - Mexico Futures Forum and the Border Trade Advisory Committee of the Texas Transportation Commission. He participated in the Foreign Affairs task force with President Calderon’s transition team in Mexico in October and November 2006 (Raul Rodriguez, The Wilson Center Mexico Institute and El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, June 2009, "The Future of the North American Development Bank", http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ20NADBANK.pdf-http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ NADBANK.pdf, Accessed 08-21-2013)

Many agencies and programs have a bearing on border issues, but the region still
AND
-term funds in a multi-year programming context might be available. 

NAD Bank solves infrastructure on the border and avoids domestic politics links

Balido, 08/29/11 (Nelson Balido—President of the Border Trade Alliance; "Bill to expand NADBank projects holds potential to make big impact for border."; Border Trade Alliance; http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html~~23top-http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html )

But Congress and the White House don’t have to look far for inspiration for how
AND
area’s quality of life and provide a needed boost to the region’s economy.

Plan catalyzes investment in renewables – the bank is key to financing and tech assistance.

Wood 10 — Duncan Wood, is the Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. For 17 years, Dr. Wood was a professor and the director of the International Relations Program at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City. He also held the role of researcher at the Centro de Derecho Económico Internacional at ITAM. He is a member of the Mexican National Research System, a member of the editorial board of Foreign Affairs Latinoamerica and has been an editorial advisor to Reforma newspaper. In 2007, he was a non?resident Fulbright Fellow. Between 2007 and 2009, he was technical secretary of the Red Mexicana de Energia, a group of experts in the area of energy policy in Mexico. He has been a Senior Associate with the Simon Chair and the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. His research focuses on Mexican energy policy, including renewable energy, and North American relations. He studied in the UK and Canada, receiving his PhD in Political Studies from Queen’s University, Canada in 1996 (Duncan Wood, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Mexico Institute, May 2010, "Environment, Development and Growth: U.S.-Mexico Cooperation in Renewable Energies", http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf-http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf, Accessed 08-22-2013)

Funding RE at the border – the role of the NADBANK¶ The North American
AND
projects that could benefit from assistance from the NADBank and from the BGC.

Tournament: Ohio ValleyUniversity of Kentucky | Round: 2 | Opponent: Johns Creek BJ | Judge: Dustin Levy-Myers

NW IT 1AC

Plan Text

Plan: The United States federal government should authorize the North American Development Bank to fund transportation infrastructure improvement projects along the United States-Mexico border.

Contention 1: Economy

Infrastructure needed now—border congestion is undermining economic trade between the US and Mexico—recent reports prove

EFT, 10/3/13(EFT—the global leader in business intelligence and C-level networking for the transport, logistics and supply chain industry; "Congestion at the Border"; Eye for Transport; http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border-http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border)
Much cited as the beneficiary of nearsourcing, Mexico is struggling with congestion along its
AND
improvements and proper allocation of personnel are necessary to help reduce the congestion. 

Plan is key to resolve congestion and boost border infrastructure for both the US and Mexico

Wilson 12 (Christopher Wilson, associate at the Mexico Institute of teh Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "U.S. Competitiveness: The Mexican Connection" 2012. www.issues.org/28.4/p_wilson.html)

Policy for a competitive region¶ The border. With an integrated regional manufacturing sector
AND
entire border would best facilitate the competitiveness of the United States and Mexico.

Plan catalyzes more investment

Mosqueda, Bachelor’s in journalism, 12 ~Priscila, 7-18-12, Texas Observer, "Sister Organizations Continue to Improve Infrastructure Along Border: Binational Institutions Fund Projects to Encourage Economic Growth," http://www.texasobserver.org/sister-organizations-continue-to-improve-infrastructure-along-border/, accessed 6-26-13~

Projects are partially funded by the Bank, with local, state and federal governments
AND
that will improve communities’ quality of life as well as promote economic growth. 

Infrastructure constraints create business uncertainty – it’s reverse causal

Donohue and Zozaya 11 (Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, José Zozaya President American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, 2011, "Steps to a 21st Century U.S.-Mexico Border A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Border Report" online @ http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/reports/2011_us_mexico_report.pdf

Businesses rely on just-in-time inventory management and depend on predictability and
AND
face regulators in reforming policy; however, more needs to be done.

Loss of confidence creates a negative feedback cycle annihilating the economy

Rubin et al 4 – PhD Economics, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institute and Chief Global Economist at Decision Economics inc. (Robert E. Rubin, Chairman of Citigroup Financial, Peter R. Roszag, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute, and Allen Sinai, Decision Economics, "Sustained Budget Deficits: The Risks of Financial and Fiscal Disarray" Paper presented The Andrew Brimmer Policy Forum, "National Economic and Financial Policies for Growth and Stability," Sunday, 1/4/04)
The loss of investorand creditorconfidence, both at home and abroad, may cause investorsand
AND
cause a further loss of confidence andpotentiallyspark another round of negative feedback effects.

Infrastructure is key to long-term Mexican growth

Aschauer 98 (David Alan Aschauer, Elmer W. Campbell Professor of Economics at Bates College. "The Role of Public Infrastructure Capital in Mexican Economic Growth" 1998. http://www.economiamexicana.cide.edu/num_anteriores/VII-1/02_ASCHAUER_47-78.pdf) VP

A number of tentative conclusions pertinent to Mexican infrastructure policy can be drawn from the
AND
— and a drop in annual growth of around 0.05 percent.  

Mexican economy is vital to the US – trade, exports, jobs, fundamentals

Sarukhan, 12 (Arturo, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, "Mexico ’Critically Important’ to US Economy," Wilson Center, 2/24/12, video testimony, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/mexico-E28098critically-importantE28099-to-us-economy, Tashma)

It’s an incredibly strong relationship, for starters, because a lot of people sometimes
AND
critically important for the social well-being and the prosperity of Americans.

US is key to the global economy

Lagarde 13 (Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. "Strong U.S. Economy, Strong Global Economy—Two Sides of Same Coin" September 19, 2013. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2013/NEW091913A.htm)

In a world of increasing economic interconnections, the United States’s stake in the global
AND
a harsh new reality" across sectors, countries, and the world.

Economic collapse causes nuclear war

Harris 26 Burrows 9(Mathew, PhD European History @ Cambridge, counselor of the U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC) and Jennifer, member of the NIC’s Long Range Analysis Unit "Revisiting the Future: Geopolitical Effects of the Financial Crisis" http://www.ciaonet.org/journals/twq/v32i2/f_0016178_13952.pdf)
Of course, the report encompasses more than economics and indeed believes the future is
AND
within and between states in a more dog-eat-dog world. 

Studies prove our impact

Royal 10 — Jedidiah Royal, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction at the U.S. Department of Defense, M.Phil. Candidate at the University of New South Wales, 2010 ("Economic Integration, Economic Signalling and the Problem of Economic Crises," Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives, Edited by Ben Goldsmith and Jurgen Brauer, Published by Emerald Group Publishing, ISBN 0857240048, p. 213-215)

Less intuitive is how periods of economic decline may increase the likelihood of external conflict
AND
such, the view presented here should be considered ancillary to those views.

Contention 2: Manufacturing

Absent the plan, border delays will cause U.S. companies to offshore to Asia.

Leone 12 — Christopher Leone, Cronkite News, 6/1/12, "Panel says U.S.-Mexico border issues hinder huge economic opportunities" http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2012/06/panel-says-u-s-mexico-border-issues-hinder-huge-economic-opportunities/)

"Border friction costs us," Wilson said. "We don’t have to give
AND
is as much as 246 billion in backlogged maintenance to that infrastructure.

Improvements in border efficiency prevent production shut-downs — lower transportation costs solidify trends of nearshoring and sustain the manufacturing base.

Wilson 13 — Christopher E. Wilson, is an Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he develops the Institute’s research and programming on regional economic integration and U.S.-Mexico border affairs. He is the author of Working Together: Economic Ties between the United States and Mexico (Wilson Center, 2011), and an editor and author of the Institute’s forthcoming State of the Border Report (Christopher E. Wilson, Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, January 2013, "A U.S.-Mexico Economic Alliance: Policy Options for a Competitive Region," New Ideas for a New Era: Policy Options for the Next Stage in U.S.-Mexico Relations, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_us_mexico_relations.pdf-http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_us_mexico_relations.pdf, Accessed 09-14-2013)

At a time when Mexico is poised to experience robust economic growth, a manufacturing
AND
potential to shut down production until the needed parts arrive at their destination.

And the industry is in a downward spiral that’s about to hit a brink – prefer long term trends over snapshots

Nash-Hoff 12 (Michele Nash-Hoff, Founder and President at ElectroFab Sales, author of "Can American Manufacturing be Saved? Why we should and how we can"; "American Manufacturing Has Declined More Than Most Experts Have Thought,"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html)
A new report released by the Information Technology 26 Innovation Foundation (ITIF) presents
AND
innovation jobs (for example, research and design) will not thrive."

Additionally, border manufacturing is key to the aerospace and defense industry.

Guidi 11 — was the Fronteras reporter at KPBS, covering immigration, border issues and culture. She’s a journalist and producer with experience working in radio, print, and multimedia, and has reported from the Caribbean, South and Central America, as well as the U.S.-Mexico border region. She’s a recipient of Johns Hopkins University’s International Reporting Project (IRP) Fellowship, which took her to Haiti for a project about development aid and human rights in 2008. That year, she was also a finalist for the Livingston Award for International Reporting, given to U.S. journalists under 35 years of age. Previously, she did reporting and production work for the BBC public radio news program, The World. Her stories focused on Latin American politics, human rights, rural communities, immigration, popular culture and music. After earning a Master’s degree in journalism from U.C. Berkeley in 2002, she worked for independent radio producers The Kitchen Sisters. In 2003, she moved to Austin, TX, where she did production and reporting work for NPR’s weekly show, Latino USA. Ruxandra has also produced features and documentaries for the BBC World Service in Spanish, National Public Radio, The Walrus Magazine, Guernica Magazine, Virginia Quarterly Review, World Vision Report, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Dispatches and Marketplace radio programs (Ruxandra Guidi, Fronteras Desk, 09-28-2011, "Border Business: Aerospace As A Binational Industry," http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/sep/28/business-mexico-aerospace-industry-maquiladora-http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2011/sep/28/business-mexico-aerospace-industry-maquiladora, Accessed 09-18-2013)

With its high-profile speakers and 3D simulation stations, the second annual Baja
AND
aerospace companies with operations in the Mexican border state grew by 50 percent.

Aerospace decline causes global nuclear war

Pfaltzgraff 10 – Robert L, Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Security Studies at. The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and President of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, et al., Final Report of the IFPA-Fletcher Conference on National Security Strategy and Policy, "Air, Space, 26 Cyberspace Power in the 21st-Century", p. xiii-9
Deterrence Strategy In stark contrast to the bipolar Cold War nuclear setting, today’s security
AND
to war • A nuclear North Korea that escalates tensions on the Korean peninsula
What all of these have in common is the indispensable role that airpower would play in U.S. strategy and crisis management.

Our heuristic is empirically verifiable — deterrence and incentive theory provide an accurate explanation of international relations.

Moore 4 — Director at the Center for Security Law at the University of Virginia, 7-time Presidential Appointee and Honorary Editor of the American Journal of International Law (John Norton Moore, Solving the War Puzzle: Beyond the Democratic Peace, pp. 27-31)

As so broadly conceived, there is strong evidence that deterrence, that is,
AND
totality of external factors, that is, deterrence, that become crucial.

Aerospace key to hegemony

Lexington Institute 13
~Public policy think tank, "America Is A Superpower Because It Is An Air Power", 1/24, http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html-http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html~~ *we don’t defend the gendered discourse of this evidence
There is no question that the United States has the best military in the world
AND
that it is air dominance that enables this country to remain a superpower. 

The pursuit of hegemony is inevitable, sustainable, and prevents great power war

Ikenberry, Brooks, and Wohlforth 13 – *Stephen G. Brooks is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College, John Ikenberry is Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and Global Eminence Scholar at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, William C. Wohlforth is Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth College ("Lean Forward: In Defense of American Engagement", January/February 2013, Foreign Affairs, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/138468/stephen-g-brooks-g-john-ikenberry-and-william-c-wohlforth/lean-forward)
Of course, even if it is true that the costs of deep engagement fall
AND
an engaged and liberal leading power. The results could well be disastrous.

Solvency

Expanding the NADBank solves infrastructure development — the plan ensures accountability, private investment, and Mexico says yes.

Rodriguez 9 — Raul Rodriguez, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. He is also the Benson Chair in Banking and Finance and Distinguished Professor at the HEB School of Business and Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas and the President of RMI, an investment and trade consulting firm in Mexico. He served as CEO and Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADBank) until October 2005. Prior to joining the NADBank, he was Executive Director of the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank; the Bank’s Director for Asia; Mexico’s Trade Commissioner in Canada during the NAFTA negotiation; and Secretary of Economic Development for the Mexican border State of Tamaulipas. Mr. Rodriguez participates actively in community affairs at home in San Antonio, Texas, as Chairman of the World Affairs Council; Chairman Elect of The Free Trade Alliance; Mayoral appointee to the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of San Antonio; Chairman Elect and Vice President of the San Antonio - Mexico Friendship Council, among others. He is also a founding member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Advisory Council of the Harte Research Institute at Texas A26M University, the North American Forum, the U.S. - Mexico Futures Forum and the Border Trade Advisory Committee of the Texas Transportation Commission. He participated in the Foreign Affairs task force with President Calderon’s transition team in Mexico in October and November 2006 (Raul Rodriguez, The Wilson Center Mexico Institute and El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, June 2009, "The Future of the North American Development Bank", http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ20NADBANK.pdf-http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ NADBANK.pdf, Accessed 08-21-2013)

Many agencies and programs have a bearing on border issues, but the region still
AND
-term funds in a multi-year programming context might be available. 

NAD Bank solves infrastructure on the border and avoids domestic politics links

Balido, 08/29/11 (Nelson Balido—President of the Border Trade Alliance; "Bill to expand NADBank projects holds potential to make big impact for border."; Border Trade Alliance; http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html~~23top-http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html )

But Congress and the White House don’t have to look far for inspiration for how
AND
area’s quality of life and provide a needed boost to the region’s economy.

Tournament: CONTACT INFO | Round: Finals | Opponent: EVERYONE | Judge: THE WORLD
Kris Trivedi (2A)
    kristrivedi17@gmail.com

Lia Isono (2N)
    lia.isono.1996@gmail.com

Tournament: Glenbrooks | Round: 2 | Opponent: St Vincent De Paul MY | Judge: Lee Quinn

NW IT 1AC

Plan Text

Plan: The United States federal government should authorize the North American Development Bank to fund transportation infrastructure improvement projects along the United States-Mexico border.

Contention 1: Economy

Infrastructure needed now—border congestion is undermining economic trade between the US and Mexico—recent reports prove

EFT, 10/3/13(EFT—the global leader in business intelligence and C-level networking for the transport, logistics and supply chain industry; "Congestion at the Border"; Eye for Transport; http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border-http://www.eft.com/freight-transport/congestion-border)
Much cited as the beneficiary of nearsourcing, Mexico is struggling with congestion along its
AND
improvements and proper allocation of personnel are necessary to help reduce the congestion. 

Plan is key to resolve congestion and boost border infrastructure for both the US and Mexico

Wilson 12 (Christopher Wilson, associate at the Mexico Institute of teh Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "U.S. Competitiveness: The Mexican Connection" 2012. www.issues.org/28.4/p_wilson.html)

Policy for a competitive region¶ The border. With an integrated regional manufacturing sector
AND
entire border would best facilitate the competitiveness of the United States and Mexico.

Plan catalyzes more investment

Mosqueda, Bachelor’s in journalism, 12 ~Priscila, 7-18-12, Texas Observer, "Sister Organizations Continue to Improve Infrastructure Along Border: Binational Institutions Fund Projects to Encourage Economic Growth," http://www.texasobserver.org/sister-organizations-continue-to-improve-infrastructure-along-border/, accessed 6-26-13~

Projects are partially funded by the Bank, with local, state and federal governments
AND
that will improve communities’ quality of life as well as promote economic growth. 

Infrastructure constraints create business uncertainty – it’s reverse causal

Donohue and Zozaya 11 (Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, José Zozaya President American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, 2011, "Steps to a 21st Century U.S.-Mexico Border A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Border Report" online @ http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/reports/2011_us_mexico_report.pdf

Businesses rely on just-in-time inventory management and depend on predictability and
AND
face regulators in reforming policy; however, more needs to be done.

Loss of confidence creates a negative feedback cycle annihilating the economy

Rubin et al 4 – PhD Economics, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institute and Chief Global Economist at Decision Economics inc. (Robert E. Rubin, Chairman of Citigroup Financial, Peter R. Roszag, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute, and Allen Sinai, Decision Economics, "Sustained Budget Deficits: The Risks of Financial and Fiscal Disarray" Paper presented The Andrew Brimmer Policy Forum, "National Economic and Financial Policies for Growth and Stability," Sunday, 1/4/04)
The loss of investorand creditorconfidence, both at home and abroad, may cause investorsand
AND
cause a further loss of confidence andpotentiallyspark another round of negative feedback effects.

Infrastructure is key to long-term Mexican growth

Aschauer 98 (David Alan Aschauer, Elmer W. Campbell Professor of Economics at Bates College. "The Role of Public Infrastructure Capital in Mexican Economic Growth" 1998. http://www.economiamexicana.cide.edu/num_anteriores/VII-1/02_ASCHAUER_47-78.pdf) VP

A number of tentative conclusions pertinent to Mexican infrastructure policy can be drawn from the
AND
— and a drop in annual growth of around 0.05 percent.  

Mexican economy is vital to the US – trade, exports, jobs, fundamentals

Sarukhan, 12 (Arturo, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, "Mexico ’Critically Important’ to US Economy," Wilson Center, 2/24/12, video testimony, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/mexico-E28098critically-importantE28099-to-us-economy, Tashma)

It’s an incredibly strong relationship, for starters, because a lot of people sometimes
AND
critically important for the social well-being and the prosperity of Americans.

US is key to the global economy

Lagarde 13 (Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. "Strong U.S. Economy, Strong Global Economy—Two Sides of Same Coin" September 19, 2013. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2013/NEW091913A.htm)

In a world of increasing economic interconnections, the United States’s stake in the global
AND
a harsh new reality" across sectors, countries, and the world.

Economic collapse causes nuclear war and terrorism

Harris 26 Burrows 9(Mathew, PhD European History @ Cambridge, counselor of the U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC) and Jennifer, member of the NIC’s Long Range Analysis Unit "Revisiting the Future: Geopolitical Effects of the Financial Crisis" http://www.ciaonet.org/journals/twq/v32i2/f_0016178_13952.pdf)
Of course, the report encompasses more than economics and indeed believes the future is
AND
within and between states in a more dog-eat-dog world. 

Studies prove our impact

Royal 10 — Jedidiah Royal, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction at the U.S. Department of Defense, M.Phil. Candidate at the University of New South Wales, 2010 ("Economic Integration, Economic Signalling and the Problem of Economic Crises," Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives, Edited by Ben Goldsmith and Jurgen Brauer, Published by Emerald Group Publishing, ISBN 0857240048, p. 213-215)

Less intuitive is how periods of economic decline may increase the likelihood of external conflict
AND
such, the view presented here should be considered ancillary to those views.
Mexican Economic growth solves the drug war
Shoichet ’12 ~11/27/12, Catherine E. Shoichet is a staff writer for CNN. "Mexican president-elect: Economic growth is key weapon in drug war," http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/27/politics/mexico-president-interview~~

Creating more economic opportunitieswillbe Mexico’s greatest weapon in the war on drugs, the country’s
AND
the violence or what aspects of outgoing President Felipe Caderon’s strategy he will change

Mexico drug violence leads to oil shocks and economic collapse

Moran 9 (7/31/09, Michael, executive editor and policy analyst, Council on Foreign Relations, "Six Crises, 2009: A Half-Dozen Ways Geopolitics Could Upset Global Recovery," http://fbkfinanzwirtschaft.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/six-crises-2009-a-half-dozen-ways-geopolitics-could-upset-global-recovery/)
Risk 2: Mexico Drug Violence:¶ At Stake: Oil prices, refugee flows
AND
to "renegotiate NAFTA," a pledge he deftly sidestepped once in office.

Nuclear war

Islam Yasin Qasem 7, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Politics and Social Sciences at the University of Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona, MA in International Affairs from Columbia, July 9, 2007, "The Coming Warfare of Oil Shortage," online: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_islam_ya_070709_the_coming_warfare_o.htm
Recognizing the strategic value of oil for their national interests, superpowers will not hesitate
AND
the chances of using nuclear weapons in pursues of national interests are high. 

Contention 2: Manufacturing

U.S.-Mexican trade is set to increase, but border infrastructure isn’t keeping up — the plan reduces congestion and saves the manufacturing sector

Wilson and Lee 12 — Christopher E. Wilson, Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he develops the Institute’s research and programming on regional economic integration and U.S.-Mexico border affairs. He is the author of Working Together: Economic Ties between the United States and Mexico (Wilson Center, 2011), and an editor and author of the Institute’s forthcoming State of the Border Report, and Erik Lee, serves as Associate Director at the North American Center for Transborder Studies (NACTS) at Arizona State University (Christopher E. Wilson, Erik Lee, Site Selection, July 2012, "Whole Nations Waiting", http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2012/jul/us-mex-border.cfm-http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2012/jul/us-mex-border.cfm)
Commerce between the United States and Mexico is one of the great — yet underappreciated
AND
, and for all stakeholders to engage vigorously in binational dialogue and cooperation.

And the industry is in a downward spiral that’s about to hit a brink – prefer long term trends over snapshots

Nash-Hoff 12 (Michele Nash-Hoff, Founder and President at ElectroFab Sales, author of "Can American Manufacturing be Saved? Why we should and how we can"; "American Manufacturing Has Declined More Than Most Experts Have Thought,"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-nashhoff/manufacturing-jobs_b_1382704.html)
A new report released by the Information Technology 26 Innovation Foundation (ITIF) presents
AND
innovation jobs (for example, research and design) will not thrive."

We’ll isolate two internal links

First is Advanced Manufacturing

Efficient US-Mexico Borders are critical to supporting advanced manufacturing.

Wilson 2013(Christopher E. Wilson Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he develops the Institute’s research and programming on regional economic integration and U.S.-Mexico border affairs. "A U.S.-Mexico Economic Alliance: Policy Options for a Competitive Region" in  New Ideas for a New Era: Policy Options for the Next Stage in U.S.-Mexico Relationshttp://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_new_era.pdf-http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/new_ideas_new_era.pdf)
Technological advances and improvements in the manufacturing process and logistics are revolutionizing industrial production in
AND
potential to shut down production until the needed parts arrive at their destination.

It spills over – a strong manufacturing base is key to advanced manufacturing and technological innovation
Lind ’12 - Policy director of New America’s Economic Growth Program and a co-founder of the New America Foundation (Michael, "Value Added: America’s Manufacturing Future," http://growth.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/Lind,20Michael20and20Freedman,20Joshua20-20NAF20-20Value20Added20America27s20Manufacturing20Future.pdf-http://growth.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/Lind, Michael and Freedman, Joshua - NAF - Value Added America27s Manufacturing Future.pdf )
Manufacturing, R26D and the   U.S. Innovation Ecosystem  Perhapsthe greatest
AND
.S. multinational corporations is taking place outside of  the United States.

Advanced manufacturing technology makes war obsolete – it’s the ultimate deterrent

Paone’09 - 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs for the US Air Force (Chuck, 8-10-09, "Technology convergence could prevent war, futurist says,"http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123162500-http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123162500)
The convergence of "exponentially advancing technologies" will form a "super-intelligence
AND
and robotics;" those he expects to converge in so powerful a way.   

Second is the Aerospace Industry

The plan is a key model for facilitating border efficiency and reducing supply chain costs.

Ed Gerwin 2013 Senior Fellow for Trade and Global Economic Policy for the Third Way Economic Program | MARCH 2013 Rooting for Canada and Mexico in the TPP http://content.thirdway.org/publications/672/Third_Way_Policy_Memo_-_Rooting_for_Canada_and_Mexico_in_the_TPP_.pdf-http://content.thirdway.org/publications/672/Third_Way_Policy_Memo_-_Rooting_for_Canada_and_Mexico_in_the_TPP_.pdf
North America’s shared production is deep and extensive. Cars co-produced by Canada
AND
America’s integrated economies to business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. 25

Stronger supply chains are key to prevent the decline in aerospace growth and competitiveness

Bernardini and Fitzpatrick13 (Eric Bernardini and David Fitzpatrick, managing directors for AlixPartners, "Pockets of Turbulence" http://www.alixpartners.com/en/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=wi4rab_uA843d26tabid=2085 June 2013)
The airline sector reflects the current good-news/bad-news state of
AND
model for which neither side is yet mature enough to implement and monitor.

Aerospace key to hegemony

Lexington Institute 13
~Public policy think tank, "America Is A Superpower Because It Is An Air Power", 1/24, http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html-http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/142016/air-power-makes-america-a-superpower.html~~ *we don’t defend the gendered discourse of this evidence
There is no question that the United States has the best military in the world
AND
that it is air dominance that enables this country to remain a superpower. 

The pursuit of hegemony is inevitable, sustainable, and prevents great power war

Ikenberry, Brooks, and Wohlforth 13 – *Stephen G. Brooks is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College, John Ikenberry is Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and Global Eminence Scholar at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, William C. Wohlforth is Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth College ("Lean Forward: In Defense of American Engagement", January/February 2013, Foreign Affairs, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/138468/stephen-g-brooks-g-john-ikenberry-and-william-c-wohlforth/lean-forward)
Of course, even if it is true that the costs of deep engagement fall
AND
an engaged and liberal leading power. The results could well be disastrous.

Solvency

Expanding the NADBank solves infrastructure development — the plan ensures accountability, private investment, and Mexico says yes.

Rodriguez 9 — Raul Rodriguez, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. He is also the Benson Chair in Banking and Finance and Distinguished Professor at the HEB School of Business and Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas and the President of RMI, an investment and trade consulting firm in Mexico. He served as CEO and Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADBank) until October 2005. Prior to joining the NADBank, he was Executive Director of the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank; the Bank’s Director for Asia; Mexico’s Trade Commissioner in Canada during the NAFTA negotiation; and Secretary of Economic Development for the Mexican border State of Tamaulipas. Mr. Rodriguez participates actively in community affairs at home in San Antonio, Texas, as Chairman of the World Affairs Council; Chairman Elect of The Free Trade Alliance; Mayoral appointee to the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of San Antonio; Chairman Elect and Vice President of the San Antonio - Mexico Friendship Council, among others. He is also a founding member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Advisory Council of the Harte Research Institute at Texas A26M University, the North American Forum, the U.S. - Mexico Futures Forum and the Border Trade Advisory Committee of the Texas Transportation Commission. He participated in the Foreign Affairs task force with President Calderon’s transition team in Mexico in October and November 2006 (Raul Rodriguez, The Wilson Center Mexico Institute and El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, June 2009, "The Future of the North American Development Bank", http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ20NADBANK.pdf-http://wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/RODRIGUEZ NADBANK.pdf, Accessed 08-21-2013)

Many agencies and programs have a bearing on border issues, but the region still
AND
-term funds in a multi-year programming context might be available. 

NAD Bank solves infrastructure on the border and avoids political spending backlash

Balido, 08/29/11 (Nelson Balido—President of the Border Trade Alliance; "Bill to expand NADBank projects holds potential to make big impact for border."; Border Trade Alliance; http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html~~23top-http://www.thebta.org/btanews/bill-to-expand-nadbank-projects-holds-potential-to-make-big-impact-for-border.html )

But Congress and the White House don’t have to look far for inspiration for how
AND
area’s quality of life and provide a needed boost to the region’s economy.

Plan catalyzes investment in renewables – the bank is key to financing and tech assistance.

Wood 10 — Duncan Wood, is the Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. For 17 years, Dr. Wood was a professor and the director of the International Relations Program at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City. He also held the role of researcher at the Centro de Derecho Económico Internacional at ITAM. He is a member of the Mexican National Research System, a member of the editorial board of Foreign Affairs Latinoamerica and has been an editorial advisor to Reforma newspaper. In 2007, he was a non?resident Fulbright Fellow. Between 2007 and 2009, he was technical secretary of the Red Mexicana de Energia, a group of experts in the area of energy policy in Mexico. He has been a Senior Associate with the Simon Chair and the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. His research focuses on Mexican energy policy, including renewable energy, and North American relations. He studied in the UK and Canada, receiving his PhD in Political Studies from Queen’s University, Canada in 1996 (Duncan Wood, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Mexico Institute, May 2010, "Environment, Development and Growth: U.S.-Mexico Cooperation in Renewable Energies", http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf-http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf, Accessed 08-22-2013)

Funding RE at the border – the role of the NADBANK¶ The North American
AND
projects that could benefit from assistance from the NADBank and from the BGC.

NADBank funding solves congestion and environmental concerns—(Bonds solve)

DOT, 2/24/11 (US Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration; "Greening Transportation at the Border"; Green Border Report; http://www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov/GreenBorderRpt/green_border_final.pdf-http://www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov/GreenBorderRpt/green_border_final.pdf) 

A number of public agencies and institutions are actively financing investment in transportation infrastructure to
AND
financial products could attract individual and commercial investors to invest in environmental infrastructure projects