Laredo, TX – Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) announced $150,000 in federal funding for the design and implementation of a binational air quality measurement system at the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo cross-border region. The funds, provided by North American Development Bank (NADBank), will be used by Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute to monitor air quality along heavy truck routes, including the World Trade Bridge and the Colombia Solidarity Bridge.

The funds will be used to install three air quality monitoring stations to track various pollutants that impact air quality and public health, including ozone, PM2.5 (particulate matter), and nitrogen dioxide. One station will be installed in Nuevo Laredo, and two will be installed in Laredo at the intersections of I-69W and Los Cabos Drive, and Mines Road and I-69W. The stations will also gather environmental data, such as temperature, relative humidity, and dew point.

“Laredo has recently seen a massive increase in trade, becoming the nation’s #1 in-land port of entry earlier this year. As more trucks come across the Rio Grande, it’s important that we monitor their impact on our air quality,” said Dr. Cuellar, a Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The new air quality measurement system will help ensure we keep our emissions in check and stay the harmful effects of air pollution, especially for our most vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. The air we breathe knows no borders, and it’s our responsibility to work collaboratively with our southern neighbors to ensure that the air we share is clean and safe for generations to come. Thank you to NADBank, TAMIU, and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute for working with me to create a cleaner, healthier future for our binational community.”

“We are pleased to award these funds for air-quality monitoring stations along the route that trucks take to cross at the World Trade Bridge, the US-Mexico border’s largest commercial port of entry here in Laredo,” said John Beckham, Deputy Managing Director of NADBank. “These funds came through the Bank’s Technical Assistance Program that provides grants to help border communities and other project sponsors create the knowledge necessary to help build more sustainable border infrastructure.”

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