Sen. Cruz Issues Statement After Senate Passes Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed the 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which included several provisions to support infrastructure throughout Texas.

Following passage, Sen. Cruz said, “I was proud to secure key legislative priorities for the Lone Star State in this year’s Water Resources Development Act. The provisions I championed bolster infrastructure projects throughout our state—improving coastal communities, protecting Texans against future storms, and supporting economic growth. I’ll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure this legislation is signed into law.”

Read the full text of the bill here.

Sen. Cruz secured for a number of crucial legislative provisions in the bill:

1. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Coastal Resilience Program, Brazoria and Matagorda Counties
   • Under this program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is authorized to improve the navigation of the waterway and repair and enhance the existing barrier system for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction.
2. Galveston Bay Ship Channel Feasibility Study
   • Authorizes the Army Corps to study improving and deepening the ship channels and barge lanes in the broader Galveston Bay area in Texas.
3. Matagorda Ship Channel Design Deficiency Cost Share
   • Sets the federal cost-share at 90% to correct design deficiencies in the Matagorda Ship Channel jetties.
4. Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project
   • Directs several actions to address the litany of delays this project has experienced. Includes a Sense of Congress that the Secretary should provide all necessary resources to expedite the required documentation for the project so it is not further delayed. Separately, the provision directs the Secretary of the Army to expedite the required documentation. Lastly, if a final report justifies the project, this provision directs the Secretary to proceed directly to the project’s preconstruction, planning, engineering, and design.
5. Study on Cost-Share Change to Navigation Construction Projects
   • Directs the Secretary to draft a report to evaluate the impact of changing the existing federal cost-share for construction navigation projects from 50 feet to 55 feet.
6. Expedited Consideration of Future WRDA Projects
   • This provision allows for expedited consideration of standalone legislation to authorize one or more projects to move to the next stage of development.
7. Cedar Port Navigation and Improvement District Channel Deepening Project
   • Directs the Secretary of the Army to expedite the review and coordination of the Section 203 feasibility study for the Cedar Port Channel Deepening Project.
8. Sabine-Neches Waterway Navigation Improvement Project
   • Directs the Secretary of the Army to expedite the review and coordination of the Section 203 feasibility study for the Sabine-Neches Waterway Improvement Project.
9. La Quinta Ship Channel Expansion Project
   • Directs the Secretary of the Army to expedite the review and coordination of the Section 203 feasibility study for the La Quinta Expansion Project.
10. Waco Lake
    • Directs the Secretary to expedite the review and give due consideration to the request from the City of Waco to participate in the repair of the embankment adjacent to Waco Lake.
11. Prioritize Prior Reports on Cost-Share Change to Navigation Operations & Maintenance Projects
    • This report evaluates the impact of changing the existing federal cost-share for operation and maintenance navigation projects from 50 feet to 55 feet. This provision directs the Secretary of the Army to prioritize the completion of the report.
12. Operations and Maintenance Building in Galveston
    • Authorizes the design and construction of an operations and maintenance building for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Galveston.
13. New Office Construction in Corpus Christi
    • Authorizes the design and construction of an administration building, maintenance building, and covered boat house for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Corpus Christi.
14. Addicks and Barker Reservoirs
    • Authorizes modifications to the project for flood risk management.
15. Westside Creek, San Antonio Channel
    • Authorizes modifications to the project for ecosystem restoration.
16. Red River Chloride Control Project
    • Reaffirms Congressional support for the Red River Chloride control project, providing water quality control to the City of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base.