Congressman Farenthold Announces the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Has Approved the Port of Corpus Christi Project Partnership Agreement

Earlier this week I announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the Port of Corpus Christi Project Partnership Agreement.

I have been working with port officials, the Army Corps, House leadership, both U.S. Senators from Texas, and the Trump Administration, even before the president assumed office, to get all the details worked out so that this essential first step in widening and deepening the port is completed. The Army Corps approval of the Project Partnership Agreement is crucial to completing the widening and deepening of the port. This has been a long time coming.

Background:

I created and chair the Texas Maritime Caucus, a bipartisan caucus that promotes Texas ports and waterway districts and illustrates the importance of ports and waterways to areas of the state and nation beyond the Gulf of Mexico.

The Ship Channel Improvement Project will widen the port to 530 feet which will allow for two-way barge traffic in tandem. It will also deepen the port to 54 feet.

The project was first authorized by Congress under the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. Congress then re-authorized the project in 2014, and then reaffirmed its commitment to the project in 2016 under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.