Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), working with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX), announced today the introduction of legislation which will give states more flexibility in how they use federal transportation funds, allowing them to invest more into border infrastructure.

“This is an important bill, one that will undoubtedly benefit Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley; as well as border communities across the country. My hometown of Laredo is host to the nation’s largest inland port, which services over 12,000 daily commercial truck crossings and 1,500 daily rail crossings. It is imperative that the transportation infrastructure around our nation’s ports and trade centers, such as the Port of Laredo, are in peak condition to insure our economy keeps moving forward,” Rep. Cuellar said.

H.R. 3181 introduced Thursday will create a Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) Reserve Fund creating an explicit avenue through which border states like Texas can reserve up to five percent of statewide Surface Transportation Funds for qualified border infrastructure purposes. This legislation allows stakeholders and border communities to advocate for border infrastructure and provides funding certainty. 

“International trade and commerce is the life-blood for many cities and small towns in my district,” said Hurd, who represents the 23rd Congressional District of Texas, which has more than 820 miles of international border. “Making it easier to safely move goods and services across the Texas-Mexico border will be good for both sides. Putting resources back into the infrastructure that facilitates that movement of goods is a longtime coming and I’m proud to support it.”

"Our homeland security starts at our border. By ensuring we are investing in the necessary infrastructure at our borders, we are also keeping our nation safe while continuing to promote American access to the 96% of the world’s consumers that live outside of our country. This legislation promotes security and economic growth, and is especially important for my district which exported $11.5 billion worth of goods and services in 2013. By providing certainty in funding for infrastructure improvements, we will be able to address the problems currently being encountered at the border," said Rep. McCaul, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

Senator Cornyn worked to include similar language in the long-term highway bill currently pending before the Senate.

“As the top exporting state in the nation, Texas relies on quality infrastructure along its southern border to help transport more than $100 billion in exported Texas goods to Mexico each year and support hundreds of thousands of Texas jobs.  Allowing Border States like Texas more flexibility in the long-term planning of border projects will benefit workers and consumers in our state and across the country,” said Sen. Cornyn.

The legislation is receiving support from stakeholders on the border, who understand the importance of having secure and stable routes across the border.

"Border wait times at our international land ports of entry are having serious negative impacts to our country's economy.  We are thankful for introduction of this legislation and the leadership demonstrated by U.S. Senators Boxer and Cornyn as well as Congressmen Hurd and Cuellar on this issue of vital economic importance.  This legislation will provide funds to our border states for needed infrastructure expansion and freight mobility projects located at our international borders," stated Jesse J. Hereford, Chairman of the Border Trade Alliance.