The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) plans to advance surface transportation authorization legislation later this spring, building on H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, from the 116th Congress. Chairman Peter DeFazio announced that the T&I Committee will formally accept requests for projects from House Members.

The T&I Committee process for considering member projects is separate and distinct from the House Committee on Appropriations’ process for considering Community Project Funding requests. Projects funded through the surface transportation authorization will be funded directly from the Highway Trust Fund, and they do not require a separate or subsequent appropriation.

Please note:

• Congressman Cuellar will not accept requests for projects outside of TX-28.
• Only legally-eligible entities, including state and local units of government, may request projects. 
• Project sponsors must comply with all relevant federal laws and regulations.
• A request submitted by Congressman Cuellar to the Committee does not guarantee the project will be funded.

Project Eligibility

Capital projects eligible under title 23, United States Code, and chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, are eligible for funding requests under T&I’s project submission process.

The best way to ensure project eligibility is to select projects included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) or Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), as those projects have already been certified as eligible for Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration funding and do not require further verification of eligibility.

For projects not in the STIP or TIP, additional documentation is required, including verification about whether the project can be added to the STIP or TIP in a reasonable timeframe, whether the project is on a long-range transportation plan, and verification of eligibility for the proposed activity under title 23 or chapter 53 of title 49 by the relevant federal agency.

Further, project sponsors must demonstrate the ability to fully obligate any funds provided within the obligation window, and must demonstrate a proven ability to finance the remaining costs not funded by the Committee, as well as the required non-federal cost share.

Transparency

All requests submitted by Congressman Cuellar to the T&I Committee are posted below. Members will be required to certify that neither they nor their immediate family have a financial interest in the requests made.

Projects Requested

Project Sponsor: Hidalgo County, Precinct 3
Project Name: Veterans Blvd. Road Expansion Project
Project Location: City of Palmview, Hidalgo County, Texas 78572
Requested Amount: $2,500,000

 Project Sponsor: City of Laredo
Project Name: IH 35/ Uniroyal Dr. and Reuthinger Rd. Interchanges Project
Project Location: City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas 78045
Requested Amount: $25,000,000

Project Sponsor: City of Mission
Project Name: Inspiration Road / Military Parkway Loop Improvement Project
Project Location: City of Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas 78572
Requested Amount: $5,500,000

Project Sponsor: Webb County – City of Laredo Regional Mobility Authority
Project Name: Vallecillo Road Construction Project
Project Location: Vallecillo Road, Laredo, Texas 78045
Requested Amount: $14,000,000

Project Sponsor: Zapata County
Project Name: Widening of US-83 South of Zapata Townsite Project
Project Location: Zapata, Zapata County, Texas 78076
Requested Amount: $5,780,148