FY2025
MEMBER DESIGNATED COMMUNITY PROJECT REQUESTS - FY2025
U.S. Representative Randy Weber submitted the following FY2025 Community Project Funding Member requests to the House Committee on Appropriations in May 2024:
Click each project name to download the Member certification form for each project.
Project Name: Beaumont Downtown Revitalization Plan Project
Request Amount: $4,700,000
Intended Recipient: City of Beaumont, Texas
Address of the Intended Recipient: 801 Main Street, Suite 300, Beaumont, Texas 77701
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for rerouting a section of existing transmission and distribution lines that bisect a parking lot on which a proposed downtown Beaumont hotel would be built. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project would boost tourism to the city and stimulate other development and redevelopment in downtown Beaumont.
Project Name: Beaumont Low Line Rail Restoration Project
Request Amount: $8,000,000
Intended Recipient: Port of Beaumont Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas
Address of the Intended Recipient: 1225 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas 77707
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for enhancing system connectivity by bringing the Port of Beaumont’s inoperable Low Line Rail infrastructure, which was destroyed in 2017 as result of Hurricane Harvey, into service. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will create a rail track grade separation, allowing rail cars to enter and exit the Port for switching purposes, without crossing the Sunset Route, which is one of the busiest mainline tracks in Texas.
Project Name: Brazos River and Colorado River Floodgates Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Project
Request Amount: $82,000,000
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Galveston District)
Address of the Intended Recipient: 2000 Fort Point Road, Galveston, Texas 77550
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for the construction of modern floodgates along the GIWW. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Brazos River floodgates are severely outdated, frequently damaged, and too small for modern watercraft. The project would reduce delays, emissions, and collisions along the GIWW, which transports over a hundred billion dollars of commodities annually.
Project Name: Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Project
Request Amount: $40,000,000
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Galveston District)
Address of the Intended Recipient: 2000 Fort Point Road Galveston, Texas 77550
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for an integrated and comprehensive coastal resiliency strategy, addressing a wide array of immediate and long-term coastal risk reduction and ecosystem restoration needs across the entire Texas coast. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Coastal Texas Project is a national security and economic protection priority project that has significant implications for the entire state of Texas and the nation.
Project Name: Galveston Harbor and Channel Project
Request Amount: $34,950,000
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Galveston District)
Address of the Intended Recipient: 2000 Fort Point Road, Galveston, Texas 77550
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for addressing problems from storms around the port to maintain operations. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because there is a need for emergency dredging and a levee raise for the project. The accumulation of sediment due to tidal activity from storms and hurricanes, coupled with delayed maintenance, poses a significant threat to the navigation of commercial vessels, jeopardizing the economic vitality of the region and beyond.
Project Name: Galveston Infrastructure Improvements (West End Cargo Complex 40-41 Slip Fill)
Request Amount: $14,400,000
Intended Recipient: Port of Galveston, Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees
Address of the Intended Recipient: 123 25th Street, 8th Floor, Galveston, Texas 77550
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for Port of Galveston Infrastructure Improvements. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because infrastructure Improvements at the Port’s West End Cargo Complex will increase capacity, reduce region-wide supply chain bottlenecks, and positively impact the nation’s goods movement capabilities.
Project Name: Galveston Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM) Project
Request Amount: $10,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of Galveston, Texas
Address of the Intended Recipient: 3016 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for a Galveston Island Multi-Agency Dual-Use First Responder Safe Room and Fire Station Replacement. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because storm facilities meeting International Code Council (ICC) criteria may provide some constituents protection.
Project Name: Galveston (Scholes International Airport) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Project
Request Amount: $16,841,475
Intended Recipient: Scholes International Airport (City of Galveston)
Address of the Intended Recipient: 2115 Terminal Drive, Galveston, Texas 77554
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for Scholes International Airport airfield improvements to meet U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Title 14, CFR Part 139 Certification requirements for commercial air service operations and new general aviation terminal construction. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because a forecasted increase in tourism and flight demand will result in efforts necessary to sustain strong airport operations for years to come.
Project Name: Orange Dravo Bulkhead Project
Request Amount: $8,079,200
Intended Recipient: Orange County Navigation and Port District (Port of Orange)
Address of the Intended Recipient: 1201 S. Childers Road, Orange, Texas 77630
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for construction on the west side of the Dravo Peninsula to improve waterway access to stabilize backlands area to allow for safe cargo transfer. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it expands cargo transportation capabilities, and shipping and logistics, while improving port operations and management.
Project Name: Orange Rail Reverse Project
Request Amount: $8,223,200
Intended Recipient: Orange County Navigation and Port District (Port of Orange)
Address of the Intended Recipient: 1201 S. Childers Road, Orange, Texas 77630
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used to improve the rail reverse curves to activate the rail service. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will benefit our local industries and enhance various capabilities of our rail transportation system and provide economic opportunities for business growth.
Project Name: Port Arthur Portside Intermodal Cargo Project
Request Amount: $12,000,000
Intended Recipient: Port of Port Arthur
Address of the Intended Recipient: 221 Houston Avenue (P.O. Box 1428), Port Arthur, Texas 77640
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for the design and construction of a 6.5-acre waterside laydown yard with road, rail, and maritime access supporting U.S. exports and U.S. manufacturing. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it enhances connectivity between road, rail, and maritime, while it supports American exports and manufacturing, the U.S. military, and local job creation.
Project Name: Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement Project
Request Amount: $173,000,000
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District
Address of the Intended Recipient: 2000 Fort Point Road, Galveston, Texas 77550
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for continued construction of the SNWW Channel Improvement Project. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Sabine-Neches Waterway is the USA’s leading energy and military exporter and the #1 exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Project Name: Sabine Pass Advanced Terminal & Methane Emission Training (ATMET) Project
Request Amount: $23,567,395.53
Intended Recipient: Sabine Pass Port Authority (in conjunction with Lamar State College)
Address of the Intended Recipient: 5960 South 1st Avenue, Sabine Pass, Texas, 77655
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for creating training facilities with associated software needed to control, monitor, and record fluid and gasses transport from point to point. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because there is a lack of such infrastructure for large-scale workforce development. It creates specialized training opportunities for construction workers, facility operators, engineers, field maintenance teams, and port managers. It also creates research facilities for methane and petrochemical emission detection.
Project Name: Texas Gulf Coast Oyster Research Project
Request Amount: $2,500,000
Intended Recipient: Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Address of the Intended Recipient: 10345 Highway 44, Corpus Christi, Texas 78406-1939
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used for oyster research on the Texas Gulf Coast. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because aquaculture is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors globally and is expected to be the primary source of growth in seafood production in the future. Texas A&M AgriLife Research is well-positioned to address this need. The agency is one of the nation’s largest agricultural research agencies and has an array of experience with genetic improvement of a large variety of plants and animal species.
Project Name: West Columbia Phase 1 Street Reconstruction Project
Request Amount: $3,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of West Columbia, Texas
Address of the Intended Recipient: 512 E. Brazos Avenue, West Columbia, Texas 77486
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used to reconstruct 2.4 miles of two-lane asphalt residential streets and collectors in the city due to severe pavement distresses associated with roadways at the end of their life cycles. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because providing new pavement and resetting the life cycle of the 6.5 miles of poor-conditioned roads will mitigate over $1 million in vehicle operating benefits alone throughout the pavement life cycle.
