Washington, DC – The House Appropriations Committee passed U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar’s (TX-28) language to reform the Presidential permit process in the Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs House appropriations bill. The language will streamline and expedite the Presidential permit approval process for bridges, including the World Trade Bridge expansion project in Laredo. In 2022, U.S. trade with Mexico accounted for an estimated $863.4 billion in goods and services. Laredo is the nation’s #1 inland port of entry, and the city’s World Trade Bridge has experienced large increases in commercial traffic since opening in 2000. So far in Fiscal Year 2023, 1,705,646 commercial vehicles have crossed the World Trade Bridge, a 6.3% increase over the previous year.

Presidential permits are required for construction projects at border crossings. Obtaining a permit currently requires an environmental review, which often takes years to complete. Rep. Cuellar’s language would direct the President to issue conditional permits for projects while environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are ongoing.

“Bridges are an economic lifeline for our border communities – they facilitate international trade, commerce, and tourism. I secured language in the FY24 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill to expedite the Presidential permit process and avoid unnecessary delays in bridge construction,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Laredo is the nation’s #1 inland port of entry, and our infrastructure is critical to achieving that. The proposed World Trade Bridge expansion project will add an additional eight lanes to the World Trade Bridge, bringing the total to 16 lanes and enabling more trade with our southern neighbor. Thank you to House Appropriations State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart and Subcommittee Ranking Member Barbara Lee for working with me to deliver this important language. I will continue to fight for improved infrastructure in our border communities.”

To view Congressman Cuellar’s remarks on the Presidential permit reform language in the House Appropriations State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee markup, click here.

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