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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 23, 1999

         PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL 
            OF THE BORDER ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION COMMISSION

The President today announced his intent to appoint Diane Takvorian and Roberto Ortego to serve as Members of the Advisory Council of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC).

Ms. Diane Takvorian, of San Diego, California, is the founder and Executive Director of the Environmental Health Coalition, an environmental justice, non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and clean-up of toxic pollution threatening health, communities and the environment since 1980. Ms. Takvorian currently serves on the board of the Environmental Research Foundation, and previously served as the Chair of the Toxics Coordinating Project, a California coalition, in addition to numerous local, state and federal governmental advisory boards. She is on the faculty at San Diego State University School of Social Work where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on community organization and administration. Ms. Takvorian received her B.A. in Psychology and her Master of Social Work from San Diego University.

Mr. Roberto Ortega, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded his law office in 1991 in Albuquerque, practicing civil litigation and governmental affairs. Mr. Ortega is a member of the New Mexico Bar Association and Hispanic Bar Association. Mr. Ortega is currently Chairman of the New Mexico Hispanic Culture Foundation, a board member of the North American Institute and a board member of the University of New Mexico alumnae association. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and former Chair of the International Trade Committee, from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ortega received his B.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

The Advisory Council of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission was created to advise the Board of Directors of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission in its mission to preserve, protect and enhance the environment along the border region in order to advance the well-being of the people of the U.S. and Mexico.

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