Washington DC –Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following statement today after President Biden issued Presidential Permits for new and widened bridges in Eagle Pass, Laredo and Brownsville as a result of a bipartisan legislative effort led by Senator Cruz to streamline the process:
Permits were granted for the World Trade Bridge (Laredo), Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge (Eagle Pass, Maverick County) and Flor de Mayo Bridge (Brownsville, Cameron County). Senator Cruz, “I am extremely proud of the bipartisan, bicameral legislative effort to gain the President's approval for these important projects. The bridges have been unnecessarily delayed, but when the delays end, they will provide immeasurable benefits not only to the communities of Eagle Pass, Laredo and Brownsville, but also to farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and small businesses across Texas. Indeed, these bridges will make it easier for goods to move, strengthening the U.S.-Mexico supply chain and resulting in lower prices for millions of American consumers. I am grateful to my colleagues for their hard work and dedication to protect the economic interests of the Lone Star State and the United States and continue to make Texas a national leader in job creation.”
Last year, Senator Cruz authored a provision into law in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA) that streamlines the presidential permitting process for new and expanded bridges across the Rio Grande in Webb, Cameron, and Maverick counties. The language requires the State Department to apply for approval and the White House to approve or deny permits for these projects within 60 days, respectively. Senator Cruz was joined in the motion by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Representative Monica de la Cruz (R-TX), Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX), and Representative Tony Gonzalez (R-TX).
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