LAREDO, Texas - Legislation that streamlines the permitting process for new and expanded bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, has been welcomed by Texas Association of Business President and CEO Glenn Hamer.
The legislation was wrapped into the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024, which President Biden signed into law late last year. The bill was crafted by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar.
Hamer joined Cruz and Cuellar in Laredo on Jan. 4 to celebrate the legislation being signed into law.
“This is a great initiative for Laredo and it's a great initiative for the state of Texas. It's a great initiative for the entire United States of America, for our friend, ally, and neighbor Mexico, for the world's most important trading bloc North America, and our friends in Canada,” Hamer said.
“This is the most significant effort to increase commerce since the passage of the USMCA. Over $850 billion of goods are traded between Mexico and the United States and 81% go through the state of Texas. So, making sure that we could speed up the arteries of trade is vitally important. With Mexico now as our number one trading partner, that's good news. I think all of us would agree we would much rather see Mexico as our top trading partner than China. The entire Texas business community is in full support, and we're going to do everything possible to build up the infrastructure.”
Later, Hamer posted these comments on social media:
“Great day for trade! On December 22, a crucial new law took effect to expedite the Presidential permitting process for new border crossing bridges that will facilitate more trade between the US and our largest trading partner, Mexico. This bipartisan and binational effort involved representation from Texas, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo Leon. Big kudos to @sentedcruz and @repcuellar for leading the congressional efforts.
“Sen. Cruz correctly noted how important this new law is for Texan manufacturers and those in agriculture, as it will create thousands of new jobs in Texas. Rep. Cuellar inspired us with a trade goal between the US and Mexico, reaching $1 trillion soon. Gov. Villarreal of Tamaulipas highlighted the impact binational cooperation has on our shared economies. This effort received substantial support from @johncornyn and other members of the Texas congressional delegation from both sides of the aisle.
“This is arguably the most significant legislative effort to advance trade in Texas and the US since the passage of #USMCA (supported by the entire TX delegation). Mexico is by far the largest trading partner for Texas—81% of all goods from Mexico to the US traveling via rail or truck cross at the Texas border. As reshoring and regionalization accelerate, and supply chains are strengthened and relocated to the US from Asia (China), we need more arteries for legal trade. As always, Gerry Schwebel of IBC Bank, captured how important this bipartisan effort is to Laredo, Texas, and North America, emphasizing the importance of private sector involvement.
“Trade is good! Fortunate to have Julia Muzquiz, with a great understanding of the Mexico/US binational relationship, joining from our TAB team.”
In addition to the TAB, the Cruz-Cuellar legislation had the support of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Laredo Motor Carriers Association, the Border Trade Alliance, the American Trucking Associations, the Texas Trucking Association, and the Texas International Produce Association.
Rep. Cuellar pointed out that presidential permits are required for construction projects at border crossings. He explained that obtaining a permit requires an environmental review, often taking years to complete. Language secured by Cruz and Cuellar directs the President to issue conditional permits for projects while environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are ongoing.
“Bridges serve as economic lifelines for our border communities, facilitating international trade, commerce, and tourism,” said Cuellar, D-Laredo. “However, drivers and truckers often report lines stretching for miles to cross, delaying the transportation of goods and costing our economy millions. We need to expand our ports of entry, and these changes to the Presidential permitting process will ensure that proposed construction projects at the World Trade Bridge, Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, and other bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border avoid unnecessary construction delays.”
One of the projects that will benefit from the legislation going into law is the World Trade Bridge in Laredo. Laredo is the nation’s largest port of entry, with 7.6 million total vehicle crossings in FY23. The city’s World Trade Bridge has experienced significant increases in commercial traffic since opening in 2000 and saw 2.5 million northbound commercial crossings in FY23. The proposed World Trade Bridge expansion project will add ten lanes to the World Trade Bridge, bringing the total to 18 lanes and enabling more trade with Mexico.
“Every year, Texas and Mexico have roughly $800 billion in trade and commerce that comes across this border. That’s jobs in Texas. That’s jobs in Mexico. That’s the lifeblood of South Texas,” Cruz said.
“Unfortunately, for the past three years, expansion of these bridges has been delayed by bureaucratic roadblocks. So, we began drafting legislation. I introduced it in the Senate, to expedite these bridges. We had it adopted in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and then it was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act. So, we’re here to celebrate a tremendous bipartisan victory, a victory for Texas. I want to thank all of the stakeholders throughout South Texas who are here. The community in Laredo worked hard to make this happen.”
