Congressman Farenthold Applauds President Trump for Funding Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project

Statement

Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) applauds President Donald Trump for including $13 million in funding for the widening and deepening of the Port of Corpus Christi in the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2019. While this is a victory for the port, the funding still needs to be approved by Congress, which Congressman Farenthold will continue fighting for in Washington.

"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 important project can continue. I also personally spoke with Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, about the importance of this project," said Farenthold. "While this is a great step forward, this is just a proposal. I will continue working to ensure that the Port of Corpus Christi is included in the FY 2019 budget Congress puts together."

Funding the Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project and Hurricane Harvey relief remain the congressman's top two priorities as he completes his last term in Congress.

BACKGROUND:

Congressman Farenthold created and chairs 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.

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