Okay chuckles mariana right Thank you good afternoon Good afternoon chairman and members of the Committee my name is mariana Daniel Wright I'm the executive director of the National butterfly Center in mission Texas which is privately owned and operated for our members and guests by the North American butterfly Association this 100 acre property stretches from the banks of the Rio Grand River to military parkway and lies in the path of the border Wall the us army Core of engineers has been involved in this in that in July of 20 17 more than nine months before any congressional vote or appropriation for border Wall funding the army core of engineers entered our private property with no right of entry to survey since that time the international boundary and water Commission has put up signs on our private property stating Now us government property no trespassing allowed and we have sued the federal government last week we sent a cease and desist letter to the W C everything that is happening relative to this project is egregious we are for House bill nine 90 and the protections it would provide property owners and all texans against the destruction of our land and especially the Rio Grand as lie Governor Dan Patrick now floats the idea of Texas building border Wall you should know that this would require the taking of five thousand parcels of private land from texans in the land of common take it where private property has always been sacrosanct this notion should provoke all texans to proudly announce such an action when that would effectively seed land to Mexico and push the Race of the state North of the Rio Grand River something general Santa anna was never able to do I have come to communicate to all of you the seriousness of this threat to private property owners and our natural resources especially the threat of contamination of our water supply the loss of a vibrant recreational waterway and the catastrophic impacts of flooding at present 28 federal laws had been waved for the construction of new border Wall that will destroy public and private lands including texans homes and business Our churches historic landmarks state parks and a robust eco tourism industry that contributes more than 500 million dollars per year to our local economy the National environmental policy act the clean air act the solid waste disposal act and the safe drinking water act are just a few of the laws that had been waved that will negatively impact the health of texans are wild Futures and features and our natural and cultural inheritance by virtue of border Wall construction in South Texas this construction will take place along the Rio Grand River the only source of fresh water for close to two million residents of hidalgo in cameron counties alone and along the canal system that delivers fresh water to our farms ranches and water treatment facilities throughout the delta in the way Of the nation's largest lettuce recall it is difficult to understand why then why the government would deliberately wave laws to design to protect the water inflict food supply in this area where ag related businesses contribute more than seven billion dollars a year to our local economy here builders no longer face any legal requirements to properly dispose of solid waste S The border Wall construction will exacerbate flooding and drown all terrestrial life trapped between the River in the Wall an unsanitary and disgusting reality we faced following hurricane Alex in 20 10 it will also increase erosion make us vulnerable to actual land loss on the banks of the River and violate multiple international treaties with Mexico all Hundreds of thousands of acres of public Green space and private property will wind up behind the border Wall which will be built over two miles inland in some places as the River wines this lands once split by a concrete and steel barrier more than 30 feet tall and stripped bare of vegetation will provide a sliver of fragmented habitat that is already a remnant for Aaron remarkable insects burns reptiles and mammals found nowhere else in the world these are only found in Texas threatened and endangered species such as the Texas tornadoes the Texas indigo the Texas horned lizard and the awesome lot Please pass House bill nine 90 as this will endeavor to preserve our quality of life and protect our natural resources this will provide for the health prosperity and safety of Texas and safeguard the public and private resources that belong to assault thank you thank you man members any questions thank you so much Chair calls Paul in a bottom