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Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), a member of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of language he sponsored authorizing an additional $10 million in federal reimbursement for the San Antonio/Bexar County Mission Reach Project in the Fiscal Year 2018 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.  This bill was passed by the House Appropriations Committee today and now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives before being sent to the Senate and on to the President’s desk.

The Mission Reach Project is a United States Army Corps of Engineers project to prevent San Antonio River flooding and restore natural plant and animal habitats in 2013. Money to complete the project was loaned to the USACE by Bexar County.  The USACE has been slowly paying back the funds thanks to the help of Congressman Cuellar and the other members of the San Antonio Congressional Delegation.  To date, the project has been authorized $16.2 million in reimbursement. If this bill is signed by the President the project will receive at least another $10 million of the total $45 million outstanding.

“I would like to thank Appropriations Energy & Water Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson and Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur for their assistance in including this language along with Senators Cornyn and Cruz, and my fellow Congressmen from San Antonio – Rep. Castro, Rep. Hurd, Rep. Doggett, and Rep. Smith – for their help highlighting the importance of repaying these Bexar County funds,” said Congressman Cuellar. “The Mission Reach project has been a huge success and undoubtedly benefited the entire San Antonio and Bexar County community. It is time for Bexar County to be reimbursed in full for the loan it provided to the Corps so it can reinvest these funds into other important projects to benefit our citizens. I’m glad to see the Committee embrace this effort and include this language in this year’s bill.”

According to the San Antonio River Authority, “The Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project has transformed an eight-mile stretch of the San Antonio River into a quality riparian woodland ecosystem. This unique project restores riverine features and riparian woodlands, reintroduces native plants, enhances aquatic habitat, and reconnects cultural and historical features.”

The Energy and Water Appropriations bill is one of twelve annual appropriations bills used to fund the government each year. Congressman Cuellar sits on the Appropriations Committee which has jurisdiction over crafting these twelve annual bills.