Congresswoman Johnson has created the bipartisan Texas Maritime Caucus:
“This caucus is an opportunity to examine and strengthen the economic impact that Texas has on the national economy. Maritime transportation is an integral part of the Texas economy, and Texas is the artery through which commerce flows throughout the U.S. I believe this caucus will allow my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to foster and generate ideas on how to expand the reach of our ports and waterways. As the Congress turns its attention to authorization of the Water Resources Development Act, it is important to have a bipartisan effort to ensure our ports are part of the national conversation.”
Congresswoman Johnson and Congressman Blake Farenthold are the founding co-chairs of the caucus. Members of the caucus include: Reps. Carter, Conaway, Culberson, Flores, Gene Green, Hinojosa, Jackson Lee, McCaul, Olson, Vela, Weber, and Williams.
The bipartisan caucus will work to:
- Educate Congressional members and staff on how ports and waterways affect their districts.
- Highlight how Texas ports and waterways facilitate goods movement throughout the country.
- Support a robust Water Resources Development Act that includes provisions to:
- Protect and spend down the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) for its intended purpose. Create a firewall for the fund and require use of annual receipts.
- Streamline both feasibility studies and projects. Provisions should mirror the streamlining changes included in the last surface transportation reauthorization bill, MAP-21. Streamline the Corps of Engineer’s processes.
- Dredge and maintain the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) to its authorized depth of 12 feet.
