Sen. Cruz Applauds U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Disaster Supplemental Funding Plan Awarding Nearly $5 Billion to Texas

HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) announcement of its Disaster Supplemental Funding Plan to provide almost $5 billion in federal support to the state of Texas. This funding was provided through the $89.3 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill passed by Congress in February.

“This is a tremendous step forward in providing federal support and relief to the areas in Texas impacted by Hurricane Harvey last year,” Sen. Cruz said. “This funding will help the state strengthen and improve the infrastructure necessary to mitigate against future hurricane and flooding events. It includes funding to study a new flood prevention project in the Buffalo Bayou basin to support the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, as well as evaluating a third reservoir, construction funding for the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay coastal protection project, and funding to complete the study of the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration project, which many refer to as the Coastal Spine. Texas has been coming back stronger than ever, and I am grateful for the Disaster Supplemental Funding Plan to continue Texans’ efforts to rebuild the state.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Disaster Supplemental list includes the following funding for Texas:

• Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study: $1.9 million to complete the feasibility study for the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study, also referred to as the Coastal Spine;
• Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay: $3.9 billion for the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay coastal protection project to help reduce the risks of tropical storm surge impacts in Orange, Jefferson, and Brazoria Counties through the construction of structural measures;
• Clear Creek: $295.165 million to initiate and complete construction of the Clear Creek flood damage reduction project;
• Brays Bayou: $75 million to complete construction of the Brays Bayou flood damage reduction project and $1.75 million to repair damages to the project;
• Hunting Bayou: $65 million to complete construction of the Hunting Bayou flood damage reduction project;
• White Oak Bayou: $45 million to complete construction of the White Oak Bayou flood damage reduction project and $1.75 million to repair damages to the project;
• Houston Ship Channel: $30 million for maintenance dredging;
• Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries: $6 million to initiate and complete a comprehensive study that will explore options for reducing flood risk in the Buffalo Bayou basin including Addicks and Barker Dams, and $1.454 million to complete construction of the Addicks and Barker Dams dam safety project;
• Houston Regional Watershed Assessment: $3 million to initiate and complete a study to identify flood risk management options in the Houston area, but outside of Buffalo Bayou;
• Sims Bayou: $1.025 million to repair damages to the Sims Bayou flood damage reduction project.

 

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