Dear john,
Today, I was pleased to be joined by Senator Ted Cruz at the Laredo World Trade Bridge to celebrate our bipartisan bill to expedite border bridge construction being signed into law. President Biden recently signed the proposal into law in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2024.
Presidential permits are required for construction projects at border crossings. Obtaining a permit requires an environmental review, often taking years to complete. My bill would direct the President to issue conditional permits for projects while environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are ongoing.
Drivers and truckers often report lines stretching for miles to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, 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, Colombia Solidarity Bridge, and other bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border avoid unnecessary construction delays.
Bridges serve as economic lifelines for our border communities, facilitating international trade, commerce, and tourism. In Congress, I will keep working to improve the quality of life for our border communities.
