Visiting the Port of Houston

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC  This week I had the opportunity to tour the Port of Houston and see firsthand the economic impact that it has on our city. The Port of Houston is the busiest port in terms of foreign tonnage and the second busiest in terms of overall tonnage. It serves as a major international trade hub which qualifies it as the 13^th busiest port in the world. During my visit I witnessed the incredible volume of imports and exports the port handles on a given day and learned more about how federal investments are working to improve the Houston Ship Channel. The Port of Houston serves as an economic powerhouse for the city and its a priority for me to provide the necessary federal funding to ensure that it remains a leading U.S. port. As a member of the Appropriations Committee I have secured over $373.25 million in federal funds for dredging and maintenance costs for the Houston Ship Channel. It is crucial that the port continue to be a strong economic driver for the region so I also included language in the 2017 energy and water appropriations bill that outlined how the Army Corps of Engineers should allocate funding for ongoing projects at the port. This language outlines a number of conditions that make the Port of Houston a leading candidate to receive additional funding to ensure its strength for decades to come. The port needs consistent maintenance to uphold its status as a critical national security asset and economic benefit to the region which is why I will continue to advocate for funding that will strengthen and improve the Port of Houston.