Congressmen Vela and Gonzalez Announce $157M Funding for Historic Port and Waterway Infrastructure Projects

Statement

Today, Congressmen Filemon Vela (TX-34) and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that nearly $157M in federal funding has been allocated towards two historic water infrastructure projects that will impact South Texas through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The Biden-Harris Administration specified that more than $14 billion of this funding will be invested in fiscal year 2022 for over 500 projects across 52 states and territories.

Federal funding in the amount of $14,700,000 will support reconstruction and repairs to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) navigation project, which extends from the Sabine River to Port Isabel, Texas, and includes several tributary channels. The GIWW project also includes flood gates at the Brazos River and lock navigation structures at the Colorado River.

The Houston Ship Channel has been awarded $142,515,000 to initiate and complete construction of Segment 3 of the Barbours Cut Channel which is connected to the Houston Ship Channel.

"I applaud this historic investment by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This critical funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will bring life to these key projects which will make long-overdue improvements to our country's infrastructure," said Congressman Vela. "These two water infrastructure projects will directly impact South Texas and will bring much needed construction activity to enhance and strengthen economic opportunities."

"Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, our infrastructure will keep up with the historic growth of South Texas," stated Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. "I join Congressman Vela in celebrating this historic investment in South Texas that will bring jobs and economic activity to our region. Thank you to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for these much needed upgrades in our community."

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